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Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  1 4580 

(716)  872-4503 


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w 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  liistoriques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notas  tachniques  at  bibliographiquas 


Thee 
tothi 


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□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I   Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 

D 


Couverture  endommagte 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartas  g6ograpniquas  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
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Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

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along  interior  margin/ 

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distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

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have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
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lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsqua  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmias. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairas  suppl6mentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilmi  la  mailleur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  pro  ;urer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peui-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normals  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


I     I   Coloured  pages/ 


y/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagias 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaur^as  et/ou  peilicuiies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Fagesii  ddco!or6eSr  tachat^es  ou  piqudes 


I — I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~7]    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 


Theii 
possil 
of  th( 
filmir 


Origii 
begin 
the  la 
sion, 
other 
first  I 
sion, 
or  ilk 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachias 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Thel< 
shall 
TINU 
whici 

Maps 

differ 

entiri 

begin 

right 

requi 

meth 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  Image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  filmies  i  nouveau  de  fa^on  & 
obtenir  la  meilleu'e  Image  possible. 


This  Item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  r6ductlon  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

SOX 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Harold  Campbsll  Vaughan  Mamorial  Library 
Acadia  Univanity 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  k  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Harold  Campbail  Vaughan  Mamorial  Library 
Acadia  Univanity 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
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filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  *t6  reproduites  avec  le 
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de  la  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  f  ilm6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmto  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  termlnant  soit  par  ta 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  termlnant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbole  -<►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clich6,  11  est  filmA  d  partir 
de  i'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

t 

5 

6 

udifllwSIWP**"'  ■ 


:,S 


AS 


■  "A  ' 


IMPAaTIAt  AKD    CORRECT 

HISTORY  OF  Tm  WAR 


BETWEEN 


•# 


THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AME^f&A, 
AND  GREAT  BRITAIN; 

lkeUvrei%^  a  Law.uff  Congress,  June  18,  ^^t  UnA 
ecn^uded  hy  a  mittfieation  anif§akilm%e  tf 
n  Treaty  &f  Peimi  lit  ilUt^4^ 


coBrmnsi^ 


A  PjkSTICVLi» 


OF  TBE 


jTAr^h  MTU 


ITJiUY  OPBE^TIOJ^S, 

AND   A  HAVftaWVL    BECORD    OF  ^^E   &T£NTS  B9^* 

AMD   INCLODIKO,, 

^»i5    rQLl^OWXN^.  IMPORTAWT    DOCUMEKTti: 

f .  The  Pre8i4ei)i*a  Message  to  Congress  of  1st  J^ioe,  1812. 

2.  Tfae  ReiMil:  <c^t^  CoiQuiiUee  of  Forejgn  RcWioiui  ef  3d  June,  Itti. 

3.  Tbe  Act  <nidal^g  War,  between  the  United  Stetbs  and  Great  Britain. 

4.  The  Treaty  of  Peace. 

5.  ]Kiles*s  List  of  Prises,  captured  during  tlie  VTar. 
it.  The  Treaty  of  P6ace  of  1783. 


C^l^ULLT  COMPII.E0  FROM  OFFICIAL  DOCtTMEllTV. 


FRIKTEH    AND    PUBLISHED    BY  JOHN    liOWy 

AT  BRAKBSPtAR^S   HKAD, 

NO.   17  OHATHAM-STRBBfk 

*  i'!* .« 


■li-a-. 


M 


#.v 


■-,M: 


^ 


..  •    « 


''W' 


M- 


■ff 


■  r 


B|l  IT  BEMBMBER'ED.  TUat  on  (he  sixteenth  Cttfltt 

^l)fyjf  In  tiid  thirty-ninth  year  of  the  Independence   of  tht^  United 

States  of  America,  Jdin  Low»  of  the  said  district,  hath 

Xi.  S*     4*ppi|ited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  Book,  the  right 

whereof  he  dums  as  Proprietor,  in  the  words  foUow- 

^n&  to.it;  ■  ;^v 

"  An  Impartial  and  Correal  Histonr  of,  the  War  between  th« 
United  Sfiktei  of  Americaf  i^  Great  Britain,  declared  by  a  law  of 
€?ougren,  Jhinc|  18, 1B12,  aiUconcliide^  by  a  ratifics^on  and  ei- 
ohanfeafin, Treaty  of  Peace,  at  the  ettl^pf  Washington,  February 
17,  ISl^.VConipnsing  a  particular  detaU({iof  the  Naval  andMH*' 
tary  operations,  and  afaithful  record  offlpievents  produred  daring, 
the  contest;  and  including,  1.  The  President's  Message  to  Con- 
Sressof  Ist'Juiie,  1812.  2.  theHeport  of  theConmuttee^fFor* 
jdgn  Relations  of  3d  June,  1812.  3.  The  Act  declaring  War 
hetwe^n  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain.  4.  The  Treaty 
«f  Pe«ee.  5.  Niles's  last  of  Prises,  captured  during  the  War. 
6.  The  Trea^  of  Peace  of  1783.  C«refoliy«oi|apiled  from  OflScial 
Bocuraeiats." 

In  conformi^  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  nf  the  United  States^ 
entitled  "  An  act  for  the  encoun^ment  of  Learning,  by  seovring 
the  copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books  to  the  authors  and  pn^rie- 
tora  of  tueh  oopiec,  duriuK  the  time  therein  mentioned.  Amd  also 
to  an  Act,  entitled  "  an  Act,  supplementary  to  an  Act,  entitled  aa 
Act  forihe  enotturagement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  eopies^iqf 
JiCapa,  ChartSi  and  Books  to  the  authorK  and  proprietors  of^ch  oo- 
pies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits 
thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etching  historical  aiwl 
A^er  priftta* 

THEBON    nUDOy  * 

CUtIc  •fihe  Sontkem.  lUitriet  of  JW«t  n 


m>^^'-'- 


»>/. 


:^' 


PRjEfACE 


IfO  era»  in;  tlia  moral  worlds  Iim  excited  ^ 
public  ottpiositj,  or  etfeeted  the  geaerilfiliejrofi' 
of  maitki^9  more  than  the  discovery  of  a  we«it« 
«»  ootttinent.  ia  the  year  1492.  Atijfif^^  as  the 
pahllo  mind  was  by  that  eYent*  yet  ils  resultiag 
Importance  was  not  then  fully  antieipated  by  the 
most  extrayagADt  hopes  or  the  most  aeote  prog- 
Bosties.  n^  eonTert  the  natural  riclMS  dT  the 
new  world  to  the  advantage  of  the  okl^%as  tho 
i^iily  oH^jeet  which  th^  kings  of  E!lm*op9  wiflbed  to 
aocom^^ish^  or  intended  to  essay.  Neither  king 
nor  subject  expected  that  the  western  worM 
would  beeome  the  seat  of  empires,  in^pendeni 
of  European  rulers;  much  less  did  they  oxpoel* 
that  the  future  monarohs  of  the  east  woidduieet 
in  the  new  world,  rivals  capable  of  opposing  and 
defeating  attempts  at  continuing  in  political  sub- 
jectiOn*  the  descendants  of  0migrants»  h^  to 
ihenew  condnent  by  cupidity^  driven  tf  it  bj^ 
persecution^  or  bani^ed  as  an  expiation  of  their 
crimes. 

It  was  not  until  long  after  the  first  settltfiaept 
of  4morica  by  Europeans^  that  it  was  sagacic^f 
ly  observed,  that  <«the  new  world  seemed  desUnra 
to  give  laws  to  the  old.'*  The  observation  drew 
forth  but  the  derision  or  contempt  of  the  hearers 
and  readers.  A  prophecy  so  improbable  and^ 
which  could  not>  it  was  supposed^  be  aeeomplialb^ 


a.a^rt> 


r 

i 


h  '^. 


♦■■" 

•dy  if  at  all.  in  n  liiindred  centuries,  \^m  defined 
too  pnerilo  to  be  f  redltcd^  and  too  distant  to  he 
dreaded. 

T|ie  fievolutionarj  ^var  gave  the  iirst  siihstalft- 
iki  proof  that  materials  for  all  the  purport  ^f 
Mlf-gOT^rnment  existed  in  America.  In  prdpo|^ 
tioB  at  the  genius  and  rfcsohrces  of  the  inhabitanis 
-vere  developed,  in  the  same  degree  did  tLe;y  find 
adtocates  in  difibrent  parts  of  the  world,>who 
either  saw  ivith  pleasure  the  successful  prospeet 
iiiiieh  epened  itself  ta  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  (late  British  colonies,)  secretly  encouB> 
aged  and  relieved  them,  or  openly  supported  and 
assl^^  thero.  The  happy  termination  of  this 
cooteM  led  to  the  belief,  that  the  theories  of  po* 
litioal  prophets  were  not  only  probable,  but  their 
eMSttmmation  less  distant  than  had  been  hithepr 
to  supposed* 

Tht  United  States,  having  by  the  treaty  of 
peace  of  1TS3,  become  a  nation  by  the  consent  of 
aU  other  aations,  had  as  if  to  begin  the  world, 
without  any  other  capital  than  the  virtue  of  thf . 
eitizefts,  and  without  security  against  fereigii 
aggression,  exeept  what  could  be  drawn  from 
their  own  oourage  and  patriotism* 

A»  yet  their  population  was  little  mere  than 
three  millions  of  inhabitants ;  the  want  of  a  well 
eoBsolidated  eonfederalion  rendered  the  govern- 
ment weak;  and  the  mduy  incidents  and  difficul- 
ties attending  the  attempt  to  reconcile  various  in- 
/  terests  with  a  general  principle,  incL*eased  this 
difiietilty.    The  speculations  as  to  the  future  desb 


PBEIACB.  ,9 

tinfes  of  the  people  were  yarious.    England  hiid^ 
Cfliieluded  peace  proforHia,  but  sbe  continued  hos- 

le  in  fact  Great  Britain  was  but  a  small  is- 
Ir  nd,  yet  her  sovereign  was  a  kiuig  over  cxteiMiTe 
regions  and  many  islands  in  various  parts  of  th« 
globe :  tbe  example  of  several  of  lier  colonies  re- 
jecting ber  authority  and  uniting  in  support  of 
each  other,  was  dangerous  to  theparent  country  ^ 
it  was  f^nd  impossible  to  subdue  theni  by  foree» 
it  was  determined  to  do  so  by  intrigue,  corrup- 
tion>  and  robbery.^ 

The  colonies  remedied  one  great  inconveniene6 
hj  forming  a  general  constltttlion  ii^±7Bd,  w]|ieh 
stands  an  unrivalled  instance  of  patriotism*  "Wis- 
dom, and  justice  ;  a  rapid  growth  of  popu$M^o« 
and  extension  of  commerce,  a  cultivation  of  Ifier^ 
ature,  arts  and  sciences  were  fast  advancing  to  n 
point  that  would  outrival  England  in  every  respect. 
,  As  this  state  of  things  advanced  in  America^ 
England  proceeded  to  measures  of  increased  vi* 
olenee  and  injustice.  Seeking  for  pretexts,  in 
prineiples  novel*  unknown  to  other  nations,  and 
even  contravening :  her  oivn  established  practice, 
she  left  to  America  the  alternative  of  submission 
to  her  will  or  resistance  by  war  f  the  latter  wat  ^ 
vesortedto. 

The  history  of  the  Revolutioaary  war  is-alrea- 
dy^  before  the  public.    It  is  a  valuable  record  of" 
^hat  men  determined  to  be  free,  can  do.    This 
war  brought  into  a  phalanx  that  mass  of  military 
patriotism,  which  under  the  immortal  Warrbit,- 
flommeoced  its  careerof  glory  at  J3uoker«]uUi> 


V 


'it" 


PKBFACm* 


•nd  tevminated  it,  under  tbe  immbrtat  VtiBUVfts^ 
TON,  at  York  Town. 

Tihe  task,  now  andertakcn>  mast  be  interest-'  *. 
ing  to  every  oiti^en  of  the  United  States.  A  re*  3 
eoird  of  tbe  second  struggle  against  tbe  same  en* 
emy,  wbo  during  seven  years  of  revolutioDiiy 
gontesty  earned  fire  and  sword,  tbe  bayonet,  tbe 
halter,  and  the  tomahawk,  throughout  the  Uni- 
ted States*  will  surely  be  an  acceptable  treat. 

The  military, talents  whitth  sprang  as  if  into  a 
aniraeulous  existence  during  the  late  war;  the 
fatriotie  eourage  which  displayed  itself  on  every 
•coasiom  ;  their  sueeessful  triumpbt  in  almost 
•i(ei^  battle,  are  proud  proofs,  that  whek'e  genius 
iafNie  1/i  act,  and  that  infiuenced  by  an  amor 
jpatfimf  no  dangers  are  too  difficult  to  overcome^ 
pa  di^oulties  too  great  to  be  subdued. 

The  ^^rent  military  and  naval  power  of  En^ 
l^and  was.  to^that  of  Ameriea,^  thii  eommence- 
ment  of  the  late  war,  as  thatM  tii^  lion  to  tbe 
lamb ;  but  the  incensed  eagle  strfitebed  forward 
bis  beak,  and,  with  it  tore  tbelaorel  from  the 
Briton's  brow  ;  and^flying  over  the  waters,  ha 
wrested  witb  hia  takms,  the  trident  l^m  tha 
^mistress  of  tbedeepL^' 

In  giving  details  of  these  CTents,  these  impepw 
lalhat^  monuments  €^  Amerioan  glory,  a  strict 
vegarj  has  been  liacf  to  truth,,  uninflueneed  by 
any  uniraf^y  eoBSaderation,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
this  smalt  t||anie  will  be  found  to  eoatain  as  co- 
pious a  vie^irof  histoid  as  eould^  reasonably  be 
0xpeeted>  witkhi  so  «iriitBisecibed  a  compass^ 


„■> 


4- 


.*;*: 


* 


HISTOBT  OF  THE  WAR,  ^/ 


Itrict 
that 
ly  be 


.#• 


AMERICA  seems  fo  have  been  (iestSne4»  bj 
Ppovidenoe»  as  the  soil  whieh  should  rive  births 
strength*  and  matui'ity  to  rational  liberty  •  in 
this  respect^  its  discevery  must  be  eonsidered  of 
prime  benefit  to  mankind*    Columbus^  a  lover 
of  justice*  vrottld  bave  fiiifd^the  re^eneect  lib- 
erty in  South  America,  but  thi«  extraord  nary*^ 
a^ventarer  became  the  object  of  perscjciuting  en- ' 
Ty*  he  was  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of  ambition 
and  tyranny ;  and*  the  southern  peniAsula*  the 
only  part  of  tlie  western  continent  which  Co- 
lumbus had  visited*  was  given  up  to  cupidity* 
plunder*^ and  the  most  horrific  ilLtre9tment  and 
massacre  of  its  hosp^ble  inhabitants.    The 
fictitibus  riches*  the  gold*  which  it  produced^ 
invited  an  eiirly  and  continued  migration  from 
the  old  teti|^newrecmtine|it*  insomupfa*  that  the 
latter  haH  sflrekdy  lo8t#  in  a  great  degree,  its 
original  ancultiyated  ai^et  f  aiijA,  were  the  ge^ 
nius  of  its  new  i&iifliiitaiits  not  restrained  by  the 
policy  of  its  vttlers*  would*  ere  now*  have  advan<- 
oed  fkr  towards  all  perfectieib  to  which  maa 
can  aspire*  For  n^ore  than  SOQ  ycars^  has  South 
America  bovired  to  the  will  of  despots*  and  maa 
has  prescintetl  hut  the  disgustin^ontrast  ef  ty- 
rants   and  slaves.    A  petriotic  pame  has  lately 
Oiffiued #gl|Bam  of  li^ftiniugh  the  darkeacjl 
atmosphi^  vhieh  eterspmd  the  poUtioaLi^* 


* 


S  HIBTOUT   OV  THE    WAB. 

gionof  the  south;  man  beginst  there^  io assume 
the  eharacter  for  which  God  and  nature  had 
destiped  him ;  and  phiJantrophy  may  hope,  that 
the  preient  generation  Mill  not  pass  away»  until 
libertr  witf  smile  over  every  part  of  America, 
and  all  its  inhabitants  be  happy. 

The  inordinate  ambition  of  hereditary  g^v- 
ernmentsy  and  their  just  jealousies  of  each  oth* 
er,  have  given  an  unbounded  spring  to  the  de- 
sire of  extended  dominion  and  foreign  conquests. 
This  spirit,  however  injurious,  has,  in  some  re- 
speets,  contributed  towards  the  increased  knowl- ;» 
edge  of  geography,  the  diffusion  of  general  in- 
foi'matiou,  and  the  facilitating*  of  a  social  inter- 
course, between  the  inhabitants  of  distant  rc*^ 
gions. 

England,  famed  for  the  adventurous  spirit  of 
its  inhabitants,  and  the  unequalled  ambition  of 
its  sovereij^ns,  could  not  remain  ejn  indifferent 
spectator  of  an  Europeanr  rival  taking  posses- 
sion of  a  new  world.  Expeditions  %vere  spon^^ 
formed  for  the  more  perfect  discovei^  of  the 
new  continent.  John  Cabot,  having  obtained 
a  com  mission  from  Henry  the  7  th  of  England, 
to  discover  unknown  lands,  and  annex  them  to 
the  crowii,  discovered  the  easteru  coast  of  Nortb 
America ;  Sir  Francis  Drake,  subsequently, 
sailed  along  it ;  and  England,  by  right  of  prior 
discovery*  claimed  its  sovereignty.  Qo\d  mines 
are  generally  eonfined  to  trppicar  climates  ;  the 
soil  of  North  America,  contiguous  to  the  sea, 
appeared  to  be  Ught,  sandy,  or  unlit  for  profit  a- 
'me  cultivation  ;  tlie  eliihate  was  vai^iable  and 
unhealthy;  the  aborigines  were  more  savage 
and  inhospitable  than  those  of  the'  «puth.  No 
adequate  indueement  presented  itself  to  iapir  set- 
tlers 5  and^  had  the  inhabitants  of  England  no 


.> 


/ 


HUTaitY    OT  TBB   WAB. 


necessity  fbr  ^Ittiog  the:p  native  eonntrj^  they 
n^ver  ivdnld  disoover  a  wiih  to  transfer  their 
iiieiidenee  to  the  then  inhoispitahle  olimate  of 
North  Amcriea.  A  stimulas  wa«  not  long 
wanting. 

1  Tl^e  granting  of  immense  tracts  of  uncultiva- 
ted wUds  to  Individuals  or  companies^  was  no£ 
likely  to  induee  any  rapid  settlement.  ]ndivld<* 
uals  mightf  for  the  purpose  of  enhancing  the 
value  of  their  personal  fortunes*  influenee 
emigrants  to  settle  on  their  new  estates;  and 
these  settlers*  having  ohansed  their  residence* 
mi^ht  be  compelled  to  abide  hy  a  chaiQC  fVom 
which  U  would  be  difiSoult  or  impossflUe'to  re- 
cede. But  their  ^reportf  and  their  fi|tQ  would 
reach  jtheir  friends ;  emIgrathNi  would  cease  or 
he  too  slow  for  any  effieient  purpose :  decreaia 
of  pottulationy  by  insalubrity  of  olimate  and  ih# 
inroads  of  Indians,  would  )|e  little,  if  at  aU,  over- 
balanced l>y  l#tj^^  mj^  the  aeoe^irfon  of  trant* 
por^dlbiiNtik         .~ 

MKn^M'0  st<^0^»  ^  A  1<>^®7  of  liberty*  rea- 
sQii  dietalli  thai  he  haa  rights;  but  this  reat^a 
ob8cute<|1^T  artlflcijH,.  ignorance  and  enervateii 
by  habitual  bondiigei  vf|^mls  incapable  of  ae- 
tloafiand  in^sensitle  tathetrue  extent  of  his  mise- 
ry. The  slave  feels  pfdn*  with^t  knowing 
whencci  H  originaieiEt*  or  how  ii  iihonld  bo  reme- 
died. This  obser^a^tion  is  strictly,  applicable 
only  to  corporeal  slavery.  The  f^very*  exer- 
cised over  Ibe.  conseiepee*  is  that*  in  support  of 
4  wlncii  no  sophristry  can  prevail;  and*  to  which* 
no  tern^  no  leligth  i»f  enduraif^*  can  reconeUo 
the  8u%rer.  No  prescription  can  justify  the 
practice  of  enslavement  in  any  case;  and.  no 
slave*  lioweyer  abject*  will  admit  it  in  easesi  ajf- 
^btli|g[  his  consience.    God  has  instilled,  IMo 


10 


UtSTOBT  or  TiiB  yf^M* 


the  heart  of  man*  certain  religious  duties;  andy 
whenever  the  fhlfilment  of  these  is  forbidden  hj 
human  edicts,  the  Injured  person  fears  not  to  re- 
volt OP  seek,  an  asylum  against  persecation. 
^  "With  God  on  his  side,  he  fears  no  other  power^ 
and  can  be  happy  in  a  wilderness  or  in  a  cave. 
-  It  is  not  now  necessary  to  enter  into  a  detailed 
view  of  the  persecutions  against  Christians  ih 
Kurope.  V^ho  that  has  not  heard -of  them?  It 
U  sufficient  to  observe  that  no  difficulties,  real 
or  imaginary,  could  deter  the  persecuted  Chris- 
tians from  seeking  an  asylum  where,  free  from 
interruption,  they  might  adore  their  God,  as 
eonscienee  dictated.  America  offered  that  asy* 
lam  I  and  to  this  circumstance  it  is  due,  that 
the  Wilderness  is  so  fast  giving  way  to  cultiva- 
tioa,  the  internal  resources  of  the  country  have 
been  explored  and  rendered  operative,  the  seem-  • 
in«^ty  insurmountable  obstaoles  of  the  new  ooun- 
t!'y  have  disappeared,  aiid  a  state  of  comfm^ 
tquai  to  that  of  any  part  of  Europe  has 
|M«uduced. 

'I'his  comfort  was  wjckedly  marred  by  th« 
British  govi^rnment,  while  it  ruled  the  North 
American  colonies.  A  desire  to  proceed  to  the 
ehicf  ol^ect  of  this  work,  and  its  limits  preclu- 
)/!ng  any  particular  recital  of  these  evils,  leaves 
i»^<iy  room  to  remark,  that  they  were  such  as  to 
#«roHte  much  unhappiness  in  the  colonies,  to  pro- 
Niu^f  complaints,  remonstrances,  and  petitions 


to  the  mother  country ;  and  finally,  were  car- 
ried to  such  excess  as  to  be  no  longer  suffi^r- 
able. 

On  the  ever  to  be  remembered  4th  July  ±776, 
the  people  of  these  colonies,  by  their  represen- 
tatives in  congress  assembled,  having  published 
»  moderate  but  firr9>  a  grevious^  but  true  state- 


MM 


W1».'.rt- 


iQISTCmT  OF  THS  WAB. 


Al 


ment  of  tbe  multiplied  injuries*  iqflicted  on  theniy 
bj  the  Briash  king  andf  governinent,  declared 
that  the  united  colonies  «  ftre»  and  of  right 
ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  states."  These 
United  colonies  consisted  of  the  states  of  New- 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts*  IKIjode-lsland,  Con- 
necticttty  New-York,  New-Jersey,  Pennsylyaniay 
Belawarey  Maryland,  Virginia,  North-Carolina, 
South-Carolina,  and  Georgia ;  leaving  England 
in  possession  of  the  provinces  of  tipper  and 
Lower  Canada,  New-Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia. 

The  content,  which  succeeded,  was  looked  on 
by  the  worlds  with  astonishment :  its  novelty 
and  its  importance  excited  general  interest.  A 
few  pfiople,  without  an  army,  without  arms» 
without  discipline,  or  munitions  of  war*  without 
money,  without  allies,  opposing  their  unorgan- 
ized force  against  a  nation  rich  and  powerful^ 
with  numerous  ships,  armies,  and  navies,  hav- 
ing discipline,  money,  credit  and  all  the  means 
of  warfare,  and  being  in  possession  of  the  colon  • 
ies,  the  inhabitants  of  which  declared  them- 
selves absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  crown 
of  Great  Britain,  was  a  crisis  of  uncommon  mo- 
ment. The  contest  was  long  and  severe ;  a  blood- 
thirsty vengeance  on  one  side  led  the  British  to 
the  most  shameful  excesses ;  a  determination  to 
live  free  or  die,  guided  the  people  of  America, 
under  the  direction  of  the  great  Washington, 
and  the  other  sages  and  patriots  in  the  field  and 
the  cabinet,  to  a  completion  of  all  they  wanted, 
all  they  wished.  Tyranny  looked  down,  liberty 
rejoiced,  on  the  completion  of  the  happy  tri- 
umph. 

The  wound  inflicted  on  the  pride  and  Interest 
of  England,  by  this  disruption  of  her  empire, 
was  truly  great,  but  still  gnater  than  was  thea 


r    (. 


^' 


Id 


HlSTdBT  0¥  7UE    WAR. 


"i 


\ 


contemplated.  Under  the  dominion  of  England, 
the  increase  of  population  would  be  slow,  the 
increase  of  commerce  and  manufactures  still 
slower :  the  country  would  be  a  warehouse  for 
British  manufactures,  the  inhabitants,  a  nursery 
for  British  armies  and  navies.  It  was  necessa- 
ry that  a  people  should  be  free ;:  that  genius 
should  be  unchecked,  industry  unrestrained,  in 
order  to  prove,  how  far  free  men  were  superior 
to  whatever  theory  could  conceive  of  them* 
'llie  experiment  has  been  successfully  tried  in 
the  United  States. 

,  The  country  of  a  monarch  would  not  in  a 
eentury  recover  from  injury  auch  as  had  been 
suffered  by  the  United  States.  But  the  people 
of  A^nierica,  felt  all  their  toils  and  losses  com- 
pensated by  the  acquisition  of  freedom  ;  they 
stood  erect,  anKl,  as  if  by  magic,  appeared  in  all 
(he  might  of  a  nation.  In  less  than  thirty  years« 
^heir  country  shook  off  the  appearance  of  a  howl- 
ing wilderness,  their  population  increased  tlirce 
ibid,  their  manufactures  increased  so  as  to  sup- 
ply nearly  all  their  wants,  and  every  sea  wit- 
nessed their  immensely  increased  external  trader 
In  short,  they  became  the  rivals  of  England. 
,  A  long  course  of  wars,  and  the  revolutionary 
war  of  America,  more  than  any  other,  increased 
the  national  debt  of  Great  Britain  to  a  great  and 
burthensome  amount.  To  meet  this  exigency, 
as  well  as  to  gratify  the  national  wish,  and  to 
provide  for  the  further  and  growing  charges  in 
support  of  foreign  colonies,  an  increased  trade 
was  necessary.  The  industry  of  Englishmen 
showed  itself  in  the  successful  and  unparalleled 
extension  of  her  manufactures,  and  the  policy 
of  her  rulers  aimed  at  an  undivided  foreign 
omiBercei  in  support  of  the  home  system. 


■M 


aiBTORT  W  THE  WAl^ 


id 


f,  the 

%m 

it  for 
rsery 

368811- 

ed,  in 
[lerior 
them* 
•led  in 

)t  in  n 
d  been 
people 
8  com* 
;  they 
il  in  all 
years, 
howl- 
ilirce 
Lo  sup- 
5a  wit- 
I  trade ; 
ind. 
(ionary 
Ireased 
;at  and 


The  nayal  successes  of  Britain,  during  the  ^ 
French  v/ar,  had  nearly  aoconiplished  her  vast 
des^gn^.  The  ships  of  Holland,  France,  Portu- 
galy  Bj^in,  and  Italy  had  nearly  disappeared 
front  the  ocean ;  those  of  I^ussia^  and  the  othet 
naval  pollers  of  the  north  of  £urope,  had  beeu 
gained  over  to  the  British  interest,  or  destroyed 
By  the  superiority  of  her  fleets.  The  United 
States,  although  in  a  state  of  infancy  v^as  yet 
the  only  nation  that  had  virtue  or  courage  suffi- 
cient to  move  in  a  just  course,  uninfluenced  by 
Jntrigue,  and  unintimidated  by  menace*  To- 
ivards  this  nation,  Britain,  for  years  manifested 
the  most  unge»ero}is,  injurious  and  cowardly 
conduct  {  amounting,  in  its  effects,  to  war,  while 
the  United  States  pursuing  an  honorable  and 
^ciiic  coiirse,  was  debarred  from  making  repri- 
sal. This  one  sidtd  war,  had  tt  been  permitted 
to  continue,  would  have  sunk  the  States  in  the 
esteem  of  foreign  nations^  dried  up  the  sources  of 
their  growing  greatness,  reduced  them  to  a  state 
of  contemptible  imbecility,  and,  not  impr<$bafo]y» 
to  a  merited  state  of  dependence--*>-they  mig&t 
again  become  colonies,-— British  eolontes. 

Hitherto  the  Americans  looked  but  little  te 
ilQme  manufactures,  the  capital  of  the  merchaxrt 
. "was  employed  on  the  ocean,  and  the  people  of 
the  interior  found  sufficient  eaiployment  in  til- 
ling the  soil.'  /rhere  was  a  gi*eat  and  profita- 
ble demand  for  every  kind  of  produce,  and  the 
citizens  were  in  the  habit  of  rt^eeiving  manufae- 
tures  of  all  kinds  from  foreign  nations,  and  par- 
ticular^^ from  England. 

Had  England  lieen  satisfied  to  contend  fw 
eommeroial  superiority  by  fair  means,  she 
¥rould  long,  very  long,  continue  to  supply  the 
llnited  States  with  almost  every  kind  of  manu- 

M 


%% 


HISTOKT  O?  THE   W4Bi. 


■  I 


i 


■K 


fi&cturc  ;  but  she  calculatetl  that  the  pneMc  pol^ 
icy  of  the  States  would  continue,  and  that  llie 
political  disputes  among  her  own  citizens  would 
fender  her  a  ^eak  enemy  even  in  war ;  and  it 
is  even  probable,  that  the  resubjugation  of  the 
coh)nies  were  in  a  certain  expected  event  con- 
templated. That  event  was  to  be  the  overthrow 
Off  France.  Hatl  the  United  States  unresisting^ 
}y  submitted  until  the  restoration  of  the  Boui% 
bons,  she  would  then  have  had  war  with  a  ven- 
geance. 

««  The  history  of  the  present  king  of  Great 
Britain  (says  the  declaration  of  independence)  h 
ft  history  of  repeated  injuries  and  usurpations.'* 
^JThis  'Would,  at  this  day,  be  a  just  representation 
^•f  th^  nonduct  of  Great  Britaih,  ffom  the  ter- 
inination  of  the  revolutionary,  to  the  commenee- 
'misnt  of  the  present  war.  Instead  of  dwelling 
more  minutely  on  it,  it  is  sufficient  to  say,  thaft 
'  it  was  so  eontimiied,  so  multiplied  and  multifa- 
rious that  the  United  States  had  no  alternative 
but  submission,  to  wrongs  by  which  they  would 
^be  degraded  as  a  nation,  or  an  appeal  to  arms. 
The  latter  was  resorted  to. 

Oti  Mnnlday,  the  1st  of  June,  a  eOtifidential 
neiisage  wais  received,  in  both  chambers  of  coip- 
iyresv,  from  the  president  of  the  United  Stat^ 
whiohrwas  read  with  closed  doors,  and  reiibrrtid^ 
in  each  house,  to  committees,  to  report  therecm. 

The  message  (as  ^ppciared  after  the  injuric- 
.    tion  of  secrecy  was  retnoved)  \fas  in  the  folloir- 
'ing  words : 

MANIFESTO.  ♦ 

To  ilkeWeWate'andH&i^e  of  Mpr^raaBots  ^f 

the  UniMlStates, 

,      I  eoWmiiiuKate  to  Congress  certain  <lo<Samenti,  Ii^k  a  oqn<M- 
^kfttioii  of  thbse  heratbibrelAidlbt^e  thbtti,  ontbe'ralqeotbjfi^^ 
affrs  w^  Grett  Britaiik 


% 


J#- 


HistoaT  <^r  the  wa^, 


Ait 


tjrior  roa^nitade,  the  conduct  of  her  government  presenU  % 
of  acts  hostile  to  the  XJiiited  Stfttes  as  an  iudeftet^dept  ao^ 


Withotit  goiiTR  back  heyond  the  renewal  in  1803  of  tbq  irar  in 
yfhieh  Great  Uiitaui  is  ei^gaged,  and  omitting  unrepaired  wrong» 
df  infuri 
series 
neutral  nation. 

British  cruisers  hive  been  in  the  eontinuc^  {iractice  of  Tiolati«|; 
the  Ani«rioRn  flag  on  the  great  highway  of  nations,  and  of  seising 
Mul  carrying  off  persons  sailing  uitder.iti  not  in  the  e^eroise  jnf  «t 
heiligeceut  right  founded  ou  the  law  of  nations  a^iast  an  enemy, 
hut  of  a  municipal  prerogative  over  British  subjects.  British  ju- 
risdiction is  thus  extended  Jo  neutral  vessels  in  a  situation  wher« 
no  laws  can,  opei-ate  but  the  law  of  nations  and  the  laws  of  tlm 
cfountry  to  which  the  vessels  belong ;  anda  self-rcdrcssis  ftesameu, 
-which,  if  Bi-itish  subjects  were  wrongfully  detained  and  alone  con- 
oevned,  is  that  substitution  of  force,  for  a  resort  to  the  responS' 
lile  sovereign,  which  falls  within  the  definition  of  war.  Conld  the 
seizure  of  British  subjects' in  such  cases  be  regarded  as  within  iNhe 
OxercisB  of  a  belligerent  right,  the  acknowle<lged  liws  of  wlKr, 
whidi  forbid  an  article  of  ciptured  ^^roperty  to  be  adjudged  wVth- 
«ut  a  regular  iuTestig<uion  before  a  competent  tribunal,  woufft 
imperiousJy  demand  the  fairc«t  trial,  nhere  the  sacred  rights  of 
pers'.ns  were  at  issue.  lu  place  of  such  a  trial,  th^se  righb  arc 
subjt'i  ted  to  the  will  of  every  petty  commander. 

'The  practice,  hence,  is  so  far  from  effecting  British  snhjeetfe 
alone  that,  under  the  pretext  of  searching  for  these,  thousands  of 
American  citizens,  under  the  »Jtfv5guwHloti>ublie lUw,  andoftiwJir 
natluiml  flag,  have  been  torn  from  their  country  and  erei^r  wnng 
dear  to  theiQ;;  have  been  dragged  on  board  siiipi^pf  war  dfa  for* 
•ign  nation,  and  exposed,  under  the  severities  of  their  discipline, 
to  be  exiled  to  the  most  distant  and  deadly  c'imes,  to  risk  their 
lives  in  the  battles  of  their  oppressors,  tuid  to  be  the  melaneholjr 
instt'Uineiits  of  taking  away  those  of  tb&r  own  brethren. 

Against  this  crying  enormity',' whicit  Great  Britain  would  be  6« 
Vrorapt  to  avenge  if  committed  against  heiself, '  t^e  United  States 
have  in  vain  exhausted  remonstrances  and  expbstulatioits.  An4 
that  no  pittof  might  be  wanting  o!  their  conciliatory  disposition^, 
and  n(»  pretext  left  for  a  continuance  of  the  practice,  the  Brititn 

?;ovcrnnie.nt  was  formally  assnred  of  the  readiness  of  the  l^aite4 
itates  to  enter  into  arrangements  such  as  could  not  be  rejected, 
if  the  recovei'y  of  Britisl»  subjects  were  the  real  and  tlie  sole  ob« 
J8ct.     1' he  coiitmunieation  passed  without  eflect  t- 

British  cruisers  haTe  been  in  the  practice  also  of  violating  the 
vights^  and  the  peace  of  our  coasts.  They  hover  over  and  hav- 
v^iss  our  departing  commerce  To  the  most  insultingpretensions 
tiiey  hare  added  the  most  lawless  proceedings  in  our  very  har- 
bors :  and  have  wantonly  sjiiit  \merican  blood  within  the  sanctQ- 
ury  of  our  territorial  jurisdiction.  The  principles  and  rules  en • 
&rccd  by  that  nation,  wi»en  a  natu)ral  naUon,  against  armed  ves- 
fit-Is  or  beiiigerunts  h  iveriiig  near  Iter  coasts,  and  disturbing  her 
commerce,  are  well  known.  AVhen  called  on,  nevei-theless,  by 
tiie  United  States,  t  >  punish  the  greater  ufltinces  committed  by 
jker  own  vessels,  her  government  has  bestowed  o;x  thetr  OOmnMUk' 
dfi^  additloaal  mitrbs  «!' hottor  uud  coniideace. 


I  >: 


if 


BfSTOUT   •t  TH£   ITAB. 


^i 


^i  ;; 


.    ^■ 


'. 


; 


„  >■■■ 


XJniet  pretended  blockndea,  without  the  prcienee  ttf  an  ade-  - 
^uate  force,  and  sometimes  without  the  praeticnbiiitj  of  appiyinf^ 
one,  our  commei-ee  has  been  plundered  in  every  sea;  the  great 
ataples  of  onr  country   ha?e  been  out  off  from  their  legitimate 
markets;  and  a  destruetire  blow  aimed  at  our  agricultural  and 


maritime  interests.  In  aggravation  of  these  predatory  measureSf 
wcy  have  been  considered  as  in  force  from  ^e  ilates  of  their  no» 
iifipation;  a  retrospective  effect  being  thus  added,  as  has  bee v 
done  in  other  important  cases,  to  the  unluwfvdness  of  the  coune 

Rtrsued.    And  to  render  the  outrage  the  more  signnl,  these  meek 
ockadea  have  been  reiternted  and  enforced  in  the  f  tc^  of  oflSeiA 
«braminiioations from  the  British  government,  declaiiig,  as  the 
^•fitie  de^iMon  of  a  legal  blockade,  •'  that  particular  ports  must  b* 
sctuaify  invested,  and  previous  warning  given  ta  vessels  bound  tp 
tliem  not  to  enter." 

Not  content  with  these  cecaaional  expedients  for  laying  wast(^\ 
•ur  neutral  trade,  the  cabinet  of  Great  Britain  resorted-  atlengtW 
to  the  sweeping  system  of  blockades,  under  the  name  of  Orders  in 
C'oancil,  which  has  been  raoukied  and  managed  as  might  best  suit  ■ 
iti  politioal  views,  its  comtnereial  jealousies^  or  tlie  avidity  of  Bri« 
i£s!)  cruisers. 

To  oiir  remonstrances  against  this  complicated  and  transcen- 
dent injustice  of  this  n>novation,  the  first  reply  was,  that  the  <^v 
iertf  were  reluctantly  adopted  by  Great  Britain  as  a  necessary  re- 
taliation on  the  decrees  of  her  enemy  proclaiming  a  general  bloe\>'-. 
Adeofthe  British  isles,  at  a  time  when  the  naval  force  of  that  en- 
CIHv  dared  not  to  issue  from  his  own  ports.  She  was  reminilc*i 
-without  effect,  that  her  own  prior  blockades,  unsupported  by  an 
adequate  naval  force,  actually  applied  and  continued,  were  a  bap 
to  tiiua  plea ;  that  executed  edicts  against  millions  of  our  proper- 
ty could  not  be  retaliation  on  edicts^  confessedly  impossible  to  hn, 
executed ;  that  retaliation/^  be  just,  should  fall  on  the  parly  aeU 
iing  the  guilty  example,  not  on  aii  innocent  party,  which  was  not 
Kyen  chargeable  with  an  acquieseenee  in  it. 

When  deprived  of  this  ftimsy  veil  fir  a  prohibition  of  our  trade 
with  her  enemy,  by  the  repeal  of  his  prohibition  of  our  trade  with 
Great  Britain,  her  cabinet,  instead  of  a  corresponding  rcpeah  op 
practical  discontinuance  of  its  orders,  formally  avowed  a  detcrmi» 
nation  to  perust  in  tliem  against  the  United  States,  until  the  mar- 
kets of  her  enemy  should  be  laid  open  to  Britisli  products;  thud 
asserting  an  obligation  on  a  neutral  power  to  require  one  belligep- 
ent  to  encourage,  by  its  internal  regulations,  the  trade  of  another 
'belligerent;  contradicting  her  own  practice  towards  all  nations,  in 
}>eace  aa  well  as  in  war  ;  and  betraying  the  insincerity  of  those 
2*Tofessions  which  inculcated  a  belief  that,  havi-ig  resorted  to  her 
t>vdera  with  regret,  she  Mas  anxious  to  fiud  an  ocoauon  for  put- 
(ing^an  end  to  them. 
Abandoning  still  more  all  respect  for  tlie  neutral  righis  of  the 
^  Vnited  States,  and  fOf  its  own  consistency,  the  British  govern* 
'  jiient  now  demand0l»-ii4ferequisitcs  to  a  repeal  of  its  oixlers,  as 
they  reUte  to  the  Uidied  States,  that  A  formality  sliQuld  be  ob- 
served Ml  thti  repcji^  of  tbe  Fronoh  dccveca.^o  w'l^  neoessary  tt; 


I 


HlSTonr    OF  THE   WAR; 


±f 


4&eir  termination,  nor  exemplified  by  British  UftAB«»  and  thit  the 
l^rench  repeal,  besides  including  that  portion  of  the  dr<ereefiMUc1^ 
operates  within  a  territorial  jurisdiction,  as  well  as  that  which  op*^ 
^ratef  OD  the  high  seas  aj^ainst  the  commerce  of  the  United  States, 
should  not  be  a  single  special  repeal  in  relation  to  the  United 
States,  but  should  be  exten<Ied  to  whatever  other  neutral  nations, 
qnoonnected  with  them,  raay  be  aifected  bj  those  decrees.  And 
M  an  additional  insult,  they  are  oajkled  on  ft>r  a  formal  disavowal 
of  conditions  and  pretensions  advanced  by  the  French  govern' 
ment,  for  which  the  United  States  are  so  far  from  havhig  ma4c^ 
themselves  responsible,  tbkt,  in  ofFicial  explaaations,  which  have 
been  published  to  the  world,  and  in  a  correspondei|ce  of  thfi 
American  minister  at  'Lon<lon  with  the  BritiBli  miniAer  for  foi> 
eign  affaii's,  auch  a  rg^ponaiblUty  was  cxpiicitly  and  emphaddallj' 
disclaiined. 

It  has  become  indf^ed  sufficiently  certain*  that  the  cojttniierse  of 
the  United  Slates  is  to  he  sacrificed,  not  as  interfeiiiu;  with  the 
belligerent  rights  pf  Great  Britain — not  as  supplying  the  wants  df 
her  enemies,  which  she  herself  supplies  ;  but  as  interfenng  wit$k 
tjte  monopoly  which  she  eovet.9  for  her  own  comtqeree  ana  navi- 
eation.  She  rarriest  on  a  war  against  the  lawful  comiueroe  of  ^ 
friend,  that  she  may  the  bitter  carry  on  a  commerce  with  an  en- 
iwuy — a  commerce,  polluted  by  the  forgeries  and  perjuries  whiok 
are  for  the  most  part  the  only  passports  by  which  it  can  succeed* 

Anxious  to  make  eveiy, experiment  short  of  the  last  resort  CfT 
inrared  nations-  the  United  States  have  with  held  from  Gr^at  Bri- 
tain) under  suecessivc  modiilcations,  the  benefits  of  a  free  inter- 
course with  their  market,  the  loss  of  which  could  not  but  outweigh 
the  profits  accruing  from  Ivtr  restrictions  of  oui;  commerce  wit^k 
ether  nations.  And  to  entitle  th6se  esperitncnta  to  the  more  fa- 
Torable  consideration,  they  WQre  sp  fnimed  as  to  enable  her  t» 

Slace  her  adversary  under  thp  exclusive  operation  of  therti.  T4» 
lese  appeals  her  government  has  been  equally  Uiflcxible.  as  |f 
willing  to  make  sacrifices  of  ev^ry  sorb  rather  than  yield  io  thb 
eliums  of  justice,  or  i^enounjce  the  errors  .of  a  false  pride.  Nay,  s* 
i^r  were  the  attempts  carried  to  overcome  the  attachment  of  thje- 
J9ritish  eabiitet  to  its  un^st  edicts,  that  it  received  every  cnoou^* 
Sigement  within  the  comptrtency  qJ:'  the  executiv'e  brandh  of  .<p|r 

guvernroent,  to  expect  that  a  repeal  of  theni  would  be  £i»lloweiS 
y  a  war  betjreen  the  United  States  and  FraneCf  unless  the 
Trench  edicts  should  also  be  repealed.  Even  this  eommuuicatiob^ 
although  ^lencing  for  ever  the  plea  of  a  disposition,  in  the  United 
States  to  acquiesce  in  those  edicts,  originally  the  sole  ptcftoTtbem^ 
rVeeeived  no  attention. 

If  no-  other  proof  (exMted  of  a  predet^mination  of  the  Briti4i^ 
fovernment  against  a  repeal  of  it»  orders,  it  might  befuwjkd  In  tk* 
•orrespondence  of  the  minister  plenipotentiaiT  of  the  Unitedi 
States  at  LomUrn,  and  the  British  secretai'y  for  ipre^ii  aflbirs^'  in 
i91&;  on  the  question  whether  the  blockade  of  May,  1806,  wiiur 
fbusidered  as  m  force,  or  .99  not  in  force.  It  had  been  awertaine|# 
,:tiiat  the  Frencli  governipent  which  urged  this  blockade  a*  tb« 
iJNwad  6f  iU  Bkirun  decree;  v&s  wilHng,  iq  the  ev«&t  •!'  its  icm«TM» 


iji 


RI8T0RT  Of   THE  WAR- 


['  k 


;     5 


r- 


to*repe«lthat  decreet  wHiob»  being  followed  hj  aliernftte  repealK 
of  the  other  offensive  edicts^  might  abolish  the  whole  system  on. 
both  sides.  Tliis  inviting  opportunity  for  aeoomplishing  an  ob- 
ject: so  important  to  the  United  States,  and  professed  so  often  to 
ot  the  desire  of  both  the  lieUigerents,  -was  made  known  to  the 
British  government.  As  that  ^veniment  admits.that  an  actual 
application  of  an  adequate  force  is  necessary  to  t  he  existence  of  a 
le|^  blockade,  audit  was  notorious,  that  if  such  a  force  had  ever 
been  applied,  its  long  dUeontinuance  had  annulled  the  blockadein 

Juestion,  there  could  be  no  sufAoient  objection  on  the  part  of  G. 
Iritain  to  a  fiarmal  rerocation  of  it ;  and  no  imiaginable  objectioa 
to  a  declaration  of  the  fact  that  the  blockade  did  not  exist.  Tha 
deeUratioft  .would  have  been  consistent  with  her  avowed  princi- 
ple* 4>f  blockade,,  and  would  have  enabled  the  United  States  to  de- 
mand from  Prance  the  pledged  repeal  ofher  decrees ;  either  witK. 
succeaSf^iu  which  case  the  way  would  have  been  opened  Cor  a  gen* 
«ral  repeal  of  the  belligerent  edicts,  or  without  success,  in  whiclv 
ease  the  United  States  would  be  justified  ia  turning  their  mea^ 
Buret  exclusively  a&;ait)St  France.  The  British  government  would,^ 
however,  neither  rescind  the  blockade,  noi  declare  its  non-exis- 
tence ;  nor  permit  its  non-existence  to  be,  inferred  ^nd  affirmed 
by  ihfe  American  plenipotentiary.  On  the  contrary,  by  repre-^ 
senting  the  blockade  to  be  comprehended  in  the  orders  in  coun- 
cil, the  United  States  were  compelled  so  to  regpu^  it  in  Ukeir  sab- 
a&quent  proceedit^ii. 

There  was  a  period  when  a  favorable  change  in  the  policy  of 
ttie  British  cabinet,    was  justly  considered  as  established.    The 
minister  plenipotentiary  of  his  Britannio  n^jjiL- sty  here  proposed 
^n  adjustment  of  the  differences  more  immediately  endangering- 
the  hai'mony  of  the  two  countries.    The  proposition  was  accept- 
ed witlk  a  promptitude  and  cordiality  corrcgpondin^  with  the  in- 
variable professions  of  this  government      A  foundation  appear^ 
Cb  be  laid  for  a  siiieere  and  lasting  reconciliation.    The  prospect^. 
Jiowever,  quickly  vanished.    The  whole  proceeding  was  disavow- 
ed by  the  British  government,  without  any  expianatioos  which 
6ould  at.  that  time  repru^  the  belief,  that  the  disavowal  proceed- 
ed from.a  spirit  of  hostility  to  the  ooaunenial  rights  and  prospeff- 
|y  of  the  United  Statea.     And  it  has  since  come  into  proof,  that- 
atth^'  very  moment  when  the  public  ntinister  was  holding  the  Ian- 
Syage  of  friendship^  and  insiiiring  ^.confidence   in  the  sincerity 
tit  the  negociation  with* which  he  waa  charged,,  a  secret  agent  of 
W  government  was  employed  in  intrigues,  having  for  their  ob- 
ject a  subrersion  of  our  goveriuneut>   and  a  dismemberment  of 
<our  happy  union. 

In- reviewing  the  conduct  of  Great  Britain  towardls  the  United 
$tates«  our  attention  ta  necessarily  drawifto  the  warfiure  just  re- 
xi»weU  by  tlie  savages  xm  one  of  our  extensive  frontiera;  a  warfare 
'which  is  knawn  to  spare  neither  age  nor  sex.  and  to  be  ^istingiiish- 
ed  by  featUrca  pecdiarly  shocking  to  humanity.  It  is  difficult  to 
account  for  the  activity  and  combinations  whichhave  for  sometime 
been  developing  themselves  among  tribe.o  in  the  Constant  integy- 
««iini«  wi<bJliilS|]9t.tta^ers^d£%rri60i:?j  vi^titeeiuikeetiostQ^ 


BISTORT   O?  THE   VfJLB, 


l» 


era  OIL 
an  ob« 
ften  to 
to  the 
I  uotuaL 
ice  of  •. 
id  ever 
kadeio^ 
rt  of  G. 
bjectioit 
'  Tha 
1  princi- 
38  to  de« 
lep  witH. 
:>r  a  gen- 
ii ■wniolv 
BIT  mea^ 
it  wouW^ 
[ion-ex»r 
affirmed 
y  repre* 
ill  coun- 
lieir  suV- 

policy  of 
3d.    The 
proposed 
langering- 
ts  accept;^ 
fth  the  m- 
appeared 
iprospect^. 
dwavow- 
js  which 
pro«ee*- 
prospefl- 
roof,  that", 
jgthelan- 
!  siocerity 
|t  agent  of 
their  oh- 
irment  of 

ne  United 
\e  jii»t  re- 
1  a  warfare 
Mtingiiish'^ 
|diffieultt0 
I  sometime 
tant  inte©^ 


imtiKty  with  that  irifiaencc^  aivf  witlioat  recollcsting  tUe^utlieii- 
ticated  examples  of  soeb  interpositions  heretofore  furuislied  hf 
the  officers  aiKl  agents  of  that  goTortitnent. 

Such  is  the  spectacle  of  iimiriesand  uidignitie»  which  have  been 
leaped  on  our  country  i  and  such  the  cnsis  which  its  unexaroplett 
forbearance  and  conMliatory  effi)rts  have  not  been  able  to  avert.. 
It  might  at  leasLlMHAeea  expected,  that  an  enlightened  nationt 
if  less  urged  t|^^PKl  obligations  or  invited  b\  tricudly  djpposi<^ 
tioiis  on  the  pArt^lFthe  Uititud  Stiitcsi  would  have  foiiiM||  in  itt> 
true  interest  alone»  a  sufficient  motive  to  respect  their  ri^ts  and 
their  tranquillity  on  the  liigh  seas ;  and  that  an  enlarged  policy 
would  have  favored  tliat  free  and  general  circulation  of  corairtaerce^ 
in  which  Uie  British  nation  is  at  all  times  interested,  and  whiehf 
in  times  of  war  is  the  best  allevinUon  of  its  calamities  to  liierself 
as  well  as  the  other  beltigerents ;  and  more  especially  that  tho 
British  cabinet  would  not,  for  the  sake  of  a  m-ecarious  an().i«urrep- 
titions  intercourse  ilrith  hostile  markets,  have  pcrsevQiill  Ik  a 
«our8«  of  measures  which  necessarily  put  at  'hazard'  the  inVAluabie- 
marlcetof  a  great  and  growing  country,  disposed  to cultirate  the- 
niutual  advantages  of  an  active  commerce. 

Other  councils  have  prevailed.  Our  moderation  and  coneiUa-- 
tion  have  had  no  other  ent'Ct  than  to  encourage  perseverance,  and 
to  enlarge  pretensions.^ — We  behold  .ur  seafaring,  citizens stiU  the 
dally  victims  of  tewlest  violence  eciumitted  en  the  gneat  common 
and  highway  of  nations,  even  witiiin  Mght  of  the  eountiy,  whi'clv. 
tt)ves  Uiem  protection.  We  behold  our  vessels-  freighted  with  the' 
products  of  our  soil  and  industry,  or  returning  wt^  the.honeat 
proceeds  of  tliem-,  wrested  from  their  Iaw6i)  dtstin.iliona)  confis-- 
.oated  by  prize-courts,  no  longer  tlie  organs -of  public  law,  but  the 
instruments  of  arbitrary  edicts;  and  their  unfortunate  crews  di^ 
persed  and  lost,  or  forced  or  inveigled,  in  British  ports,  into  B^*it-^ 
iah  fleets ;  whilst  arguments  are  employed  in  support  of  these  ag- 
gr^8sioi)s  which  bav«  no  fopndatipn  but  in  a  prineipte  equally  sup- 
yorttng  a  claim  to  regulate  our  external  commerce  in  all  oas<f^ 
whatsoever. 

AVe  behold,  in  fine,  on  the  side  of  Great  Britain,  a  state  eCwafr. 
against  the  United  States,  on  the  wdeof'the  United  States,  a 
State  of  peace  towards  Greal:  Britain. 

Whether  the  United  Slates  shall  continue  pasave  uader  thetfe 
^progressive  usurpatioi^s,  and  these  aecumulatihg  wrongs :  or  tip- 
posing  foi'ce  to  force  in  defence  of  their  natural  rights,  ShalV  com- 
mit, a  just  cause  into  the  hands  of  the  Almighty  disposer  of  eveutfti 
avoiding  all  connexions  which  might  entangle  itin^e  contests  or 
views  of  other  powi6rSj  and  preserving  a  constant  reaffiness  to-, 
concur  in  an  honomble  re-establishment  of  peace  and  fdendship, 
is  a  solef&n  question^%hich  the  Gonstitution  wisely  confides  ^  the 
legislative  department  of  the  government;    In  recommending  it. 
to  their  early  deliberations,.  T  am  happv  in  the  assurance  that  iHe 
decision  'will  be  worthy  the  enllghtenea  and  patriotic  counctia  of^ 
.virtuous,  a  free,  and  a  powerful  nation.  f' 

Having  presented  this  view  of  the  relations  of  the tTnitedSEatei^^ 
i|ltkGcai%  Atitaio,  and  of  tht^  soleou  alteraatiTe  Kpowios^  Miol^:' 


sn 


liISTtfK¥   OF    THE    WJlt. 


1'^" 


them,  t  proceed  to  remark,  that  the  oommutiTdiUJbiia  lust  made 
tft  congress  on  tlie  subject  of  our  I'ehition  with  France,  will  have 
shown,  tbtit  since  the  ruvocutton  of  her  decrees  as  they  violated 
the  nentml  riebta  of  the  United  States,  her  government  hasaU' 
ihoi<ise<l  illegal  vapturas,  bv  its  privateers  and  public  ships,  and 
that  other  outrages  have  huen  prHotisedj^ouu  vessels  and  our 
•itizeni.  It  vitt  have  been  seen  alsa  thtqHMfefnnity  had  bt'e*. 
provided,  or  satUfOlorily  pledged  for  thVHpnsivo  'spoilationf 
committed  under  thu  violent  and  retrospective  orders  of  the 
French  government  against  the  property  of  our  citizens  scize^ 
within  tiie  jurisdiction  of  France.  I  abOain  at  this  time  f itxn  re- 
oommending  to  the  eoasideration  of  congress  definitive  meiiaurea 
with  respect  to  that  nation,,  in  the  •expectation,  tlmt  (he  result  of 
uncldied  discussions  between  our  minister  |ilenipoteutiary  at  Par- 
la  and  the  French  government,  will  tpredily  enable  congress  tft 
desoider  with  greater  advantage,  on  the  course  due  t»lhe  rights^- 
die  interests,  aud  the  honor  ot  our  country. 

JAMES  MAPisoar. 

WfufUnsrtont  June  i;  lSlt2. 

Mr.'  €alhonn,  fi'om  the  comtniNee  of  foreign  re* 
Ifttions  of  tlie  house  of  representatives*  to  whoiu^ 
VfM  referred  the  Presi(Umt*>(  mossagf,  made  a 
report,  on  the  3d  June,  of  which  the  f(»llowin|^ 
is  a  feopy.  , 

jpfe  Comndttee  on  Foreirn  Jtelationn^  to  whom  vat  referred  thfi^, 
Meuage  of  the  FresiOmt  of  the  UJuted  Staff  a^  of  the  Ut  vf 
Jun$t  1812. 

»EPORT-^ 

That  after  (he  f^perience  whidi  the  United  States-  hare  hni 
•f  the  great  injustiee  of  the  British  government  towards  them,  ejc«» 
amplified  by  s*  many  acts  of  violence  and  ^ppressteit,  it  wiU  be 
^oapve  difficult  tojusti^  to  theimpartiai  world  their  patient forbeari' 
anee«  tlian  ^e  measures  to  which  it.  has  become  (necessary  to  re* 
tort,  to  avenge  the  »ronp;8  and  vindicate  the  r^hts  and  honor  oT 
the  tuttioa.  Vdnr  eosamittee  are  happy  ^  observ%i^  ou  a  dispa^K 
sionatb  review  of  the  eondact  ofthe  United  States,  that  tl^ey  see  |» 
1^  no  cattse  foe  censure. 

If  along  forbearance  under  injuries  ou^ht  ever  to  be  eowiidereA 
A  ^rtae  in  any  nation,  it  isone  which  pecuharly  become^the  United 
jB^tes.  Ko  people  ever  bad  stronger  motives  to  cheridi  peace  i 
JMme  kanre  ever  cherished  It  with  gre^^er  aiiieerity  and  jjceal. 

But  the  period  lias  now  arrived^  wl^en  ttie  Unite<l  StMes  muMt 
?li|p|>ort  their  character  andaratiou  among  the  nations  of  the  euLih* 
'.•rawbinit  to  the  most  ahameful  deg  i«Uiiion  F '-abearance  k^a 
•eased  to  be  a  virtue.  War  on  th»  one  sidp,  N*d  peace  on  tue 
••Ihtr,  i»  a  sftoatiou  as  ruinous  us  it  is  disgraci  ful.  The  mad  ftinb^ 
lion,  the  lost  of  power,  and  commercial  avarice  of  .Great  JSritaip* 
anrogatiog  to  hevaeU*  tke  eoDa^Iaie  4«(Mfti»a<)C  th4MmB»  «ttd^«<^ 


•     ,  H: 


HISTOBT   OF  THB   VTAB. 


St' 


ill  have 

riol'uteil 

ps,  An4 

ftd  bee«k 

jilationf 

af  the 

8  8cizti4 
'rotn  re- 

result  oft 
at  Par- 

|gl*i'S8  \M 

e  rightv 

tsaK. 


ign  re* 

whoHt 

made  w 

lowing 

the  1»«  y 


Hare  hfiA 
hem,  Qj."- 
itwUlbe    < 
t forbear* 
wy  tore- 
honor  oT 
a  dUpa|K 
\)fij  see  l» 

jlidere* 
te  United 
|h  peace  i 
Teal. 

ites  muiat. 
|he  eurth* 
ginoe  U^a 
|e  on  t;>e 
lad  «i»hl^ 


arising  over  it  annnboiindedanrl  liwlMf  tyrannr,  have  )^  tA  )ne«« 
tral  nations  an  alternative  onlj*,  betvioen  the  hair  •urrender  of 
their  ri|^t8,  and  a  manly  vindieation  of  them.  Happi'y  for  tW 
United  States  their  deatiny< .  under  tlie  aid  of  heaven,  is  In  their 
OMTB  hands.  The  crisis  is'  fnrroldftble  onh  by  their  love  ofpeaeer 
At  soon  as  It  becomes  a  dnty  to  re linquish  t  :at  sitnatinn.  aanger 
disappears.  They,  have  suffered  no  wrongs  they  hnve  received 
no  insnlts,  however  great)  for  which  they  cannot  obtain  redress. 

More  than  seven  years  hMTe  elapsed  since  the  enmmeiicilnen^ 
•f  this  system  of  hotcileagi^resslon  by  the  Kritisli  gOTcrnm^nt,  oa 
the  rights  and  interests  oS  the  United  States^  Tliemanaeri>fi(» 
eoanmencement  was  not  less  host!  le,  thair  the  spirit  with  which  it > 
has  been  prosecuted.  The  United  States  have  invariably  donW 
ever}' thing  in  their  power  to  preserve  the  relations  of  friendshifp' 
V'ith  Great  Britain.  Of  this  disposition,  they  pve  a  distinguisbee 
)iroof  at  the  moment  when  they  were  made  the  victims  ol^an.  OfN 
posite  policy.  The  wrongs  (if  the  last  Mar  had  n«t been  fSOIVoltc* 
at  the  commencement  of  the  present  one.  Thev  warned  us  rf 
dangc  s,  against  which  it  was  sought  to  pi-ovide.  As  ear^  ap  the 
year  1804,  the  minister  of.  the  United  States  at  London,  w4r  in* 
struoted  to  invito  the  British  government  to  enter  intoa  nego^ft* 
fSon  on  all  the  points  on  which  a  collision  might  arite  between  Ih* 
two  countries  in  the  course  of  the  wai^  and  to  propose  to  it  an  9X* 
cangement  of  their  claims  on  fair  and  reasonable  conditions.  The 
invitation  was  accepted.  A  negocintion  had  commenced  and  n^M 
depending,  and  nothing  had'  occurred  to  excite  a  doubt  that  it 
wbuM  not  terminate  to  the  satisfaction  ot  both  parties.  It  it-as  si 
{hist'mei  aud  under  these  circumstances^  that  an  attacf:  Wa'ilhftdSiF 
by  surprise,  on  an  importaat  branch  of  the  American  commerce, 
which  affected  every  part  of  the  United  States^  and  iovolytd  maqj' 
•f  their  citi^rns  in  ruin.  «i 

The  commerce  on  which  this  attack  was  ao  unexpectedly  m«d«i» 
was  between  tlic  United  States  and  the  colonies  of  France,.  3paii» 
and  other  enemies  of  Great  Britain.  A  commerce  joat  iu  itself; 
sanctioned  by  theexamplc  of  Great  tiVitain,  in  regard  to  the  trade 
T/ith  her  own  colonics ;  sanctioned  by  a  solemn  act  between  the 
two  governments  in  the  last  war,  and  sanctioned  by  the  practice  of 
^e  Bi-iiish  goverument  in  the  present  war,  more  than  two. year& 
having  thc^  elapsed  wiliiOU(  any  interferencewith  it.         .      . 

The  i;ijiistice  of  this  attack  could  ouly  1/^  equalled  by  the  ahsur* 
%!ity  of  the  pretext  alledged  for  it.  It  was  pretended  by  the  Brit' 
ish  governinent,  that  in  case  of  war,  her  enemv  had  nori^ht  to  mod- 
ify its  ooloi^ial  regulations,  ;8n  as  to  mitigate  the  calamities  of  war 
to  the  inhabitaius  of  its  colonies.  This  pretensiont  peeulier  to 
Great  Britain,  is  utterli  incompatible  with  the  rights  of  sovereig ntjC 
in  ever^  independent  state.  If  we  recur  to  the  welUestabliMicd 
and  universally  admitted  law  of  nations,  we  sliall  find  no  sanction  to 
•it  in  that  venerable  code.  The  sovereignty  of  every  state  is  co> 
extensive  with  its  dominiona,  and  cannot  be  abrogated  or  curtailed 
4b  its  rights,  as  to  iiny  part)  except  by  conquest.  Neutral  nations 
have  a  ri]j^h,{L.to  trade  to  every  port  of  either  belligerent,  tMdch  ift 
AQt  lesillyUo^ded,  and  in,  «II  artiel^s  which  ace  noi  cootcaktMl 


m 


.St 


BISTOHT  OF  THB   WA«« 


•r  v»r.  Sttoh  ii  the  absurdity  at  thit  pretenaioa,  that  jMtr  tMiih 
mitttte  are  awuret  especiaHji  nftar  the  able  manner  in  which  it  hat 
be<tn  heretofore  refuted  and  exfioaed,  that  they  would  oflTer  an  in- 
ault  to  the  undoritanding  of  tVie  hoUir,  if  they  enlarged  on  it ;  and 
if  any  thing  couUl  add  to  tho  nigh  sense  of  the  injustice  of  the  I)ri» 
tish  government  in  tlie  traosacttoni  it  would  be  the  editi'ast  which 
ker  eovduet  exhibiu  in  regacd  to  tliis  trade,  and  in  regard  to  a 
aimiiar  trade,  by  neutrals  with  her  own  colonies.  It  is  known  t« 
Ihe  worid,  that  Great  Britain  regulalea  her  own  trade  in  war  and 
in  peaee^  at  honiu  and  in  her  colonies,  as  she  Ands  for  her  interest 
>— that  in  war  site  relaxes  the' restraints  of  ber  colonial  system  la 
favor  of  the  colonies*  and  that  it  never  was  suggested  that  she  had 
»ot  a  rii^ht  to  ilo  it ;  or  tliat  a  neutral,  in  taking  advantage  of  thet 
velaxntinn,  violuted  a  belligerent  right  of  her  enemy.  But  wittk 
Grcut  Britain,  every  thmg  is  lawful.  It  is  only  in.  a  trade  witls 
her  enemies  that  tliu  Uultcd  States  can  do  wrong.  With  the n» 
nil  trade  is  unlMwful. 

In  the  vear  1793,  an  attack  was  made  by  the  British  govern* 
aaent  on  the  same  branch  of  our  neutral  trade,  which  lutd  nearlji 
invohred  the  two  countries  in  a  war.  The  difTcience,  however, 
Was  amicably  accoraniodated.  The  pretension  wus  withdrawn^ 
and  reimration  made  to  the  United  States  for  the  losses  wIneU 
they  had  suffered  byiit.  It  was  fair  to  infer,  frum  llmt  arrange* 
meat,  that  the  commerce  was  deemed  by  the  Dritiah  government 
bvful,  and  that  it  would  not  be  again  disturbed. 

Had  tho  British  government  been  resolved  to  contest  this  trade 
"Iriith  neutrals,  it  was  due  to  the  uharacter  of  the  British  natioa 
Vml  ihe  decision  should  be  made  known  to  the  government  of 
the  Uniterl  Slates.  The  existence  of  a  uegociatioii  which  had 
been  invited  by  our  government,  for  the  ]>urpo8e  of  preventing 
diffc'reu^  by  an  amicable  arrangement  of  their  respective  pre* 
tensiom^  gave  a  strong  claim  to  the  notiiioation,  while  it  aSbr^ 
ded  tliil  t'uirest  oiipnrtutiity  for  it.  But  a  very  different  policy  an- 
imated thethuii  cabinet  of  England  The  iiberHrcoufidence  and 
ft>ieudly  oveiturri  of  the  United  States  were  taken  advantage  of 
•o  ensnare  thcin.  Steady  to  its  purpose,  und  inflexibly  hosUle  to 
this  country,  thi-  British  goveruineut  cutiuly  looked  forward  to  tho 
moment  wiven  it  might  give  tlic  most  deadly  wound  to  our  inter« 
est<i.  A  ti'A(to,  ju8tr:in  'ita>^U\  which  waasaaurcd  by  so  many  strong 
an  /  sa6recl  pleilges,  wus  cor.sidiMtid  safe.  Our  'citizcus,  with 
M»n' usual  industry  and  cuterpriac,  had  embarked  in  it  a  vast  pro* 
portion  of  their  shipping.  htkI  of  their  cupitai,  which  were  at  8ea» 
under  no  other  i^rotectioa  than  the  law  of  nations,  and  tiib  coufi- 
deuce  which  they  reposed  in  tlio  justice  and  fnendship  of  the 
British  nutiou.  At  this  period  the  unexpected  blow  v; as  given. 
Many  of  our  vessels  was  seisu^iK,  carried  into  port,  and  condemned 
by  a  tribunal  which,  while  it  professes  to  respect  the  law  of  na- 
tions, obeys  the  m.tndates  of  its  own  government.  Hundreds  of 
•ther  vessels  were  driven  from  the  oeean,  and  th<:  J.i'ade  itself,  \m 
a  great  me<tsui*e,  suppressed      The  eil'ect  produced  by  this  attack 

81  the  lawful  commerce  of  the  United  States,  was  such  as  mighlj: 
*vo  iK^Qft  t^jfcetc^  from  a  tirtaoM,  in<leB.Qn^c«!^  and.lwghly  bu»' 


TTB?'; 


UllTOllY  •!  TTOB  WAt. 


^rtil  veen1«.  Bat  one  aentiment  pt^mdcd  tlie  wtioYe  Amerien 
nition.  No  loeal  interests  \ierc  iTMnledj  no  nordld  mothret 
tblt.  Without  looking  to  the  pnrta  %rhich  tulFered  rooit)  the  in- 
▼Mion  of  our  riffhti  w«i  considered  a  common  cirase,  and  from 
4ne  extremity orour  Union  to  tiic  other,  wm  heanl  tlie  voica  of 
«n  united  people,  cidlinp;  on  their  coTernmcnt  to  aTenge  th^r 
wrangs,  and  vindicate  the  ri|»htn  and  honor  of  the  country. 

From  this  period  tlie-niitilh  c;overnm«nt  has  gone  on  in  • 
jtontinued  eaeroaohment  on  the  ngnts  and  interests  of  the  United 
States,  disregarding  in  its  course,  in  many  instances,  obligitt.ionfl. 
^l)ieh  have  heretofore  been  lield  sacred  by  civilized  nntions 

In  May  1100,  the  wliole  coafet  of  the  contiacnt,  from  the  Klbt 
,1b  Brest  melusive,  Mras  deciared  to  ]u'  in  a  state  of  liiookade.  By 
tliis  act,  the  well*establisiied  principles  of  the  law  cf  nntions,  prin* 
!aiples  which  hare  served  for  ages  as  guides,  and  fixed  the  lioun- 
dary  between  tke  rigfhts of  I>c1h|^;erents  and  ncntrals,  ttere  viola- 
led :  Bv  the  law  of  nations*  as  recognizetl  by  Grent  Rrhafn  hcr« 
self,  no  bloekade  is  Iftwful,  unless  it  be  sustained  by  the  applioa- 
lion  of«an  adequate  force,  and  that  an  adequate  force  vrat  iipptled 
to  this  bioekade,  in  ftftfull  extent,  will  mot  be  pretended.  Whether 
CJreat  Britain  was  able  to  maintain  legally  so  extensive  otlookatfe, 
•onsidering  (lie  war  in  which  she  is  engaged,  reijnh'ing  inch  ex- 
tensive na?al  Operations,  is  a  question  wliioh  h  is  not  necessatir 
at  this  time  to  examine.  It  is  sufficient  to  be  known,  that  sticn 
fbrce  wasnot  nppliisd.  and  this  is  evident  from  the  terms  of  the 
blockade  itself,  uy  'wrhtcli,  comparatirely,  an  tnoonsidemble  p6;'- 
tion  of  the  coast  only  was  declared  to  be  fai  a  itftte  of  ftrict  tnhA 
i*igof0tt8  blockade.  'The  objectibn  to  the  measure  Is  not  dimiti-< 
ished  by  that  elreumstance.  If  the  for«e  wtis  not  (ipplied,  tho 
blockade  was  unlawfol,  frOir  whatever  eauSe  the  failure  might 
proceed.  The  belligerent  >ho  tnsUtotes  the  blockadte, '  wniiot 
Absolve  itself  from  the  Obligation  to  itpply  the  force  under  tMV 
|ifetext  whatever.  For  a  belligerent  to  renx  a  bioekade  tfibikth  k 
«otild  not  maintain,  it  "would  be  a  refinement  in  injustice,  hot !««». 
itisuiting'to  the  finderManding'than  ripugnatit  to  the  law  of  «»«• 
'ions.  To  elaim  merit  fr»m  the  mitigMion  of  an  evil,  whiteh  the 
'party  bttd-not  the  power,*r  fbundit  itiedhveidetit  to  inflitet,  wool4 
be  a  new  mode  of  encroaching  on  neutral  r^hti.  Your  o6mmHtee 
thinlcit  just  to  t'etiiiatik,  that  this  act  of  tho-'^MtTsh  gDvemm«nt 
<!Me8  not  RppeAsi^  to'harre  been  adopted  in-th«iiehse  in  wideh-it  hik 
'be«n  %hiee  edMStftied.  On  consideration  of  ^1 'the  cmHimAatiefts, 
attendhig  the  difetttire,  and  partieuittrhr  the  character  of  the  diy- 
tiogivfiShed'MMeiitfan  who  atmoutieed  it,  <«ye  Are  persuaded  that  It 
Vas  eotietited'inaspirit  ofeonciliation,  knd  intbhdM  to  tead  to-Uft 
'i|ec!oittthodai£6n  of  all  differetiees  b^Veen'the  Ufiited  States  iiHd 
"C^eatSHtlhi.  HisdiBAh  diinppointed  thathope  «nd  the  act  hto 
'fitice  l!Mtibne'%ubserTiebt  to  dther purposes.  It'  has  been  made 
by  his  sucaessor  a  pretext  for  that  vast'«^em  of  ^Mtt^tfttOn  irhilfli 
'Jliv  iso  itttig  6ppir6sBed  ahd  'M^fSssed  tWr  cbniili«rc^. 

the  'ktext^tet  tiTtfke'BHttih  'gOTtirtttne^t  whldb  tiaimrwif  MCm- 
tton,is  tht'Mrderttf  cMihcil  of  JhsAttarr  7,  1807,  by  SHiieh  neuCM 


l.ii«t»«i-«tr>^ 


Sk 


HI8T0BT  OT  THE   WiB. 


i '' 


•r  her  allies,  or  any  oAie>  eountfy  with  irhich  Great  Briidn  might 
not  ft*eely  ti-ade.  Hy  this  order  the  pretention  of  England,  here< 
tofore  olairncd  hy  every  other  power,  to  prohibit  neutrals  dispo- 
'  sing  of  parts  ^fthv'ir  cargoes  at  difTerent  ports  of  the  saiue  enemy, 
is  reviTod,  and  with  vast  aooumulation  of  injury.  Every  enemy, 
Ikoweyer  great  (he  number  or  distant  from  each  other  is  consid- 
ered one>  and  the  like  trade  eyer  with  powers  at  peace  with  En- 
gland, whafi«om  motives  of  policy  had  ex  luded  or  restrained  her 
eorameree,  was  also  prohibited.  In  this  act  the  British  govern- 
nent  evidently  disclaimed  all  regainl  for  iieutml  righ(|).  A  ware 
that  the  measures  authorised  by  it  could  find  no  pretext  n  aUy 
belligerent  right,  none  was  urged     To  prohibit  the  sale  of  our 

Jroduce.  consisting  of  innocent  articles,  at  any  port  of  a  belligerent 
ot  blockaded-  to  consider  every  helligerent  as  one,  and  subject 
neutrals  to  the  same  restraints  with  all,  ns  if  there  was  but  one, 
were  bold  encroachments.  But  to  restrain,  or  in  any  manner  in- 
terfcre  with  pur  commerce  with  neutral  nadons  with  whom  she 
had  no  justifiable  cause  of  war-  for  the  sole  reason  tliat  (hey  re- 
«ti'ained  or  excluded  from  their  ports  her' commerce,  wa%  utterly 
incompatible  with  the  pacific  relation  subsisting  between  the  two 
cou|iwfies. 

We  pi-oceed  to  bring  into  view  the  British  Onleir  in  Counci', 
•f  November  i  1th,  1807,  which  superseded  every  other  order, 
and  consummated  that  system  of  hostility  on  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States  which  has  been  since  so  steadily  pursued.  By  this 
•rder  all  France  and  her  aliies,  aud  every  other  country  at  war 
with  Great  Britain,  or  with  which  she  was  not  at  war,  from  which 
)he  British  flag  was  excluded,  and  ail  the  colonies  of  her  enemies 
were  subjected  to  the  same  restrictions  as  if  they  were  actually 
hiockaded  in  the  most  strict  and  rigorous  manner,  a«d  ail  trade  in 
artioies  the  produce  and  manufacture  of  the  said  countries  and  col- 
on^s,  audthevesse  seaga^ed  in  it  were  subiected  to  capture  an4 
•Ondemnati^iu  as  ^aMrfii!  prizes.  To  this  order  certain  exception* 
were  made,  \7hi0h  we  ufrbear  to  notice,  because  they  were  not 
'•do]>ted  from  a  regani  to  neutra  rights,  hut  were  dictated  by  po- 
licy to  promote  the  commerce  of  England^  and  so  far  as  they  rela- 
ted to  neutra  ]iowers,  were  said  to  emanate  from  the  clemency 
«f  the  Brinsh  government. 

It  would  be  superfluous  in  your  committee  to  state*  that  by  this 
order  the  K  itish  government  declaimed  direct  and  positive  war 
against  th«  United  States.  The  dominion  of  the  ocean  was  com* 
pk'tely  usurped  by  it  aM  commerce  forbidden  aud  every  flag  driv- 
en fi'om  it,  or  subjected  to  capture  and  condemuation,  which  did 
not  subserve  tlu'  policy  of  the  Rritish  government  by  paying  it  a 
tribute  and  sai'lug  under  its  sanctio«.  rrom  iliis  period  the  IJni- 
ted  States  have  incurred  the  heaviest  losses  and  mos^  mortifyin|f 
Itumiiiaiioiis.  Tiiey  have  borne  the  calami. ics  of  war  wiihout  re-* 
tOfJiig  them  00  i  s  authors. 

So  far  your  committee  has  preacn^cd  to  the  view  of  the  House 
the  Mi^gressions  which  have  been  oommiliod  under  the  authority  ot* 
tlie  British  goverunraent  on  the  commerot?  of  the  United  StalM.— - 
|)r«  «uU  A«w  prtoeed  to  Pllier  wrongs,  wkioh  h«T9  beeatitii  m«re 


ItfilTaRY  OF  TUB  WAS* 


u 


^severely 'Mt.  Among  these  is  the  impremment  of  our  seaman,  a 
{tractice  which  has  iwen  iinceAshiitly  inaintaiiied  hy  Great  Britam 
111  the  wars  to  which  she  has  been  n  party  Muce  our  revolution. 
Voiircotnmitt(>e  cannot  convoy,  in  adequate  terms,  the  deep  Mui^ 
Avhivhthey  euterlain  of  the  injustice  una  oppression  of  this  proceed- 
inir.  Under  tlie  pretext  of  impressing  British  seamen,  onr  fellotv- 
"citizens  are  seized  in  British  npV^i  on  the  high  seas,  and  in  every 
other  quarter  to  which  the  Biilish  power  extends,  arc  tal(pn  on 
board  Britisli  men  or  war,  and  coiilf()oilcd  to  serve  there  as  Britisit 
sijbjr'cts.  In  this  rnotle  uiir  citiet-ns  arw  wantonlv  snatdied  frctin 
their  country  and  their  TiMnilies,  deprived  of  their  liberty,  and  doom* 
edto  an  i^^noininions  and  slavish  bondage, -compelled  to  B^ht  tlio 
batllesof  a  foreign  country,  and  often  to  perish  in  them.  Our  fl,is 
has  given  them  no  protection ;  it  has  been  unceasingly  violated,  anti 
our  vessels  exposed  to  diin;;er  by  the  loss  of  the  men  taken  from 
them.  Your  committee  need  not  remark,  that  while  the  practice  ig 
cbntinued,  it  is  itnpossilde  for  the  lJ<ii<led  States  to  consider  them- 
selves an  indepeiid(>nt  niition.  Every  now  case  is  a^  new  proof  of 
their  degradation.  Its  continuance  Is  the  more  iinju!<tifiahle,  because 
■tlie  United  States  huve  repeatedly  proposed  to  the  British  soverii- 
:nent  an  arrangement  whicb  would  secure  to  it  the  control  of  its  own 
people.  An  exemption  of  the  citiicens  of  ttie  United  States  from  this 
itegFading  opprcssian,  and  their  flag  from  violation,  is  all  they  have 
aougbt; 

This  lawless  waste  ofoor  trade,  andequnlly  unlawful  impressment 
of  our  seamen,  have  been  much  aggravated  hy  the  insults  and  in- 
dignities attending  them.  Undei  the  pretext  of  bioi-.kading  tho 
-liarbqrs  of  France  and  herallies,  British  squadrons  have  been  sta- 
tioned on  our  own  coast,  to  watch  and  annoy  onr  own  trade.  To 
giveeflbcl  to  the  blockade  of  Eiiroiiean  ports,  the  ports  and  harbors 
of  the  United  States  have  been  blockaded  In  executing  these  or 
ders  of  the  British  government,  or  in  obeying  the  spirit  which  wis 
known  to  animate  it,  the  commanders  of  these  squadrons  have  eir- 
crViached  on  our  jurisdiction,  seized  our  vessels,  and  citried  into  ef- 
fect impressments  within  our  limits,  and  done  other  act*  of-  gre.it 
ji)j(i4ice,  violence,  and  oppression.  The  United  Stateii  have  seen, 
Mith  mingled  indignation  and  ^ll'pri^e,tll»t  these  acts,  i<i!<t<'ad  of 
procuring  to  the  perpetrators  the  punishment  doe  to  unatithoriRcJ 
crimes,  have  not  faiii>d  to  recoiumeud  thtin  to  tite  favor  of  their 
government. 

W  lether  the  British  government  has  contributed  hy  active  mea- 
sures to  excite  against  us  the  hostility  of  tlie  Saviige  tribes  on  our 
frontiers,  your  coiumiltee  are  iiot  disposed  to  occwpy  mu«h  tim»  In 
investigating.  Certain  indications  of  general  notoriety  may  supi>ty 
the  place  of  authentic  dncnmuuts;  though  these  have  not  bpi^n 
wanting  to  establish  the  fact  in  some  instances.  It  is  known  that 
symptoms  of  British  hostility  towards  the  United  Stales  have  never 
failed  to  produce  corresponding  symptoms  amoni^  those  tribes.  It  !3 
also  well  known,  that  on  all  such  oceahions,  abdndant  supplies  of 
the  ordinary  munitions  of  war  have  been  offered  by  the  agents  of 
•British  coitimenial  comoatiies,  and  even  from  British  garrinnns^ 
wherewith  they  were  enabled  to  commence  tliat  sy>tem  of  Hhvhjjo 
yarfare  on  f  jr  frontiers,  which  has  been  at  all  time'i  indi'wriminuln 
Jo  its  effect,  on  all  agea,  lexes  and  conditions,  and  so  revoltiag  to 
dihrnanity. 

.Your  <;oln&l(tte  would  be  touch  gratlfit^d,  if  they  could  close  hcrj|r.'-: 


^ 


mSTORV   Qh   TUB   WAtt^ 


'■'•^ 


the  details  of  British  wrongs ;  but  it  is  their  duty  to  recite  aaolTier 
act  of  stiii  greater  malignity,  than  any  of  those  which  have  becD 
already  brought  to  your  view.  The  attempt  to  dismember  our 
Union,  and  overthrow  our  excellent  constitution,  by  a  secret  mis- 
Bioo,  the  object  of  which  was  to  foment  discontents  and  excite  ipstir- 
rection  agamst  the  coustittrted  authorities  and  laws  of  the  nation, 
At  lately  disclosed  by  the  agent  employed  in  it,  affbrds  full  proof 
that  there  is  no  bound  to  the  hostilitv  of  the  British  governmeot  to- 
wards the  United  States-— no  act,  however  ninnstifiable,  which  it 
would  not  commit  to  accomplish  their  ruin.  This  attempt  excites 
the  greater  horror,  from  th^  consideration  that  it  was  made  while 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  were  at  peace,  and  an  amiea- 
ble  negoriatiou  was  depending  between  them  for  the  accommodation 
of  their  differences,  through  public  ministers  regularly  anthorisedfor 
the  purpose. 

The  United  States  have  beheld,  with  unexampled  forbearance, 
this  continued  series  of  hostile  encroachments  on  tlieir  rights  and 
interests,  in  the  hope  that,  yielding  to  the  force  of  friendly  remoD- 
fitrances,  often  repeated,  the  British  government  might  adopt  a 
more  just  policy  towards  them  j  but  tha^  hope  no  longer  exists. — 
They  have  also  weighed  impartially  the  reasons  which  have  been 
urged  by  the  British  government  in  vindication  of  these  encroach* 
meiitSi,  and  found  in  them  neither  justification  nor  apology. 

The  British  government  has  alledged  in  vindication  of  the  Or- 
ders in  Coimcil,  that  they  were  resorted  to  as  a  retaliatioa  on 
France,  for  similar  ag||ress!ons  committed  by  her  on  our  neutral 
trade  with  British  dominions.  But  how  has  this  piea  been  lopport* 
ed  P  Thedatesof  British  and  French  aggressions  are  well  known 
to  the  world.  Their  origin  and  progress  have  been  marked  with 
too  wide  and  destructive  a  waste  of  the  property  of  our  fellow-ci- 
tifens,  to  have  been  forgotten.— The  decree  of  Berlin,  of  Nov.  21st, 
1806,  was  the  6r3t  aggression  of  France  in  the  present  war.  Eight* 
een  mouths  had  been  elapsed  after  the  attack  made  by  Great  Bri- 
tain on  our  neutral  trade,  with  the  colonies  of  France  and  her  aUici^ 
and  six  months  from  the  date  of  the  proclamation  of  May,  1806.— 
Even  on  the  7th  Jan.  1807,  the  date  of  the  first  British  order  ia 
council,  so  short  a  term  had  elapsed  after  the  Berlin  decree,  that  it 
Was  hardly  possible  that  the  intelligence  of  it  should  have  reached 
the  United  States.  A  retaliation  which  is  to  produce  tta  eff*>ct,  by 
operating  on  a  neutral  power,  ought  not  to  be  resorted  to,  till  the 
neutral  bad  justified  it  by  a  culpable  acquiescence  in  the  unlawful 
met  of  the  other  belllgereat.  It  ought  to  be  delayed  until  after  siif- 
f  cient  time  had  been  allowed  to  the  neutral  to  remonstrate  against 
the  m<;i9ure  complained  of,  to  receive  an  answer  and  to  act  on  it| 
which  has  not  been  done  in  the  present  instance  ;  and  when  the  or- 
der of  Nov.  Iitfa  was  issued,  it  is  well  known  that  a  minister  of 
France  had  declared  to  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  U.  8. 
«t  Paris,  that  it  was  not  intended  that  the  decree  of  Berlin  Aould 
miply  to  the  United  States.  It  is  equally  well  known,  that  no  A- 
merican  vessel  had  then  been  condemned  under  it,  or  seizure  beea 
made,  with  which  the  British  government  was  acquainted.  The 
(bets  prave  inconteatibly,  that  the  measures  of  France,  howev(!r  «■- 
justifiable  in  themselves,  were  nothing  more  than  a  pretext  for  those 
Of  England.  And  of  the  ins«ifficienc^  of  that  pretext,  ample  proof 
bas  already  been  afforded  by  the  British  government  itself,  and  i« 
CMtflmtin^rewivefimn.   AltkougH  It  wm  declafed  that  tke  «r* 


# 


■m 


m 


BISTORT  OF  TBI!   WAS. 


^ 


ilers  in  eoiineil  were  retaliatory  on  France  for  her  decrees,  it  waff 
also  declared,  and  in  the  orders  themselves,  that  owing  to  the  aq- 
B?rioiity  oftheButish  nav^,  by  which  the  fleets  of  rraiore  and 
ler  allies  wereeonffied  within'  their  own  ports,  the  French  decrcft 
were  considered  oply  as  empty  threats. 

It  is  no  justification  of  the,  wrongs  of  one  power,  that  the  like 
were  committed  by  another,  nor  oiight  the  fact,  if  trne,  to  have 
been  urged  h;^  either,  as  it  could  afford'no  proofofitflove  of  justice, 
ttf  its  magnanimity,  or  even  of  its  courage.    It  is  more  worthy  thr 

f'  nvernment  of  a  f  reat  nation,  to  relieve  than  to  a<»ail  the  injured. 
Tor  can  the  repetition  of  wrongs  by  another  power  repair  the  violar 
ted  rights  or  wounded  honor  of  the  injured  party.  An  utter  ini^ 
kility  alone  to  resist,  would  justify  a  quiet  surrender  of  our  rightir 
and  degrading  submission  to  the  will  of  others.  To  that  condition 
^e  United  States  are  not  reduced,  nor  do  they  fear  it.  That  they 
ever  consented  to  di.«cus8  with  either  power  the  misconduct  of  the 
ether,  is  a  proof  of  their  love  of  peace,  of  their  moderation,^  and  of 
the  hope  which  they  still  indulged,  that  friendly  appeals  to  just  and 
Senerous  sentiments  would  not  be  made  to  them  In  vain,  fiut  tlie 
motive  was  mistaken,  if  their  forbearance  was  imputed,  either  to  the 
want  of  a  just  sensibility  to  their  wrongs  or  of  a  determination,  if 
suitable  redress  was  not  obtained,  to  resent  them.  The  time  has  now 
arrived  when  this  fiystem  of  reasoning  must  cease — It  would  be  in'* 
aulting  to  refleat  it— -It  would  be  degrading  to  hear  it.  The  United 
States  must  act  as  an  independent  nation,  and  assert  their  vighli 
and  avenge  their  nrongs,  according  to  their  own  estimate  of  them^ 
with- thei  party  who  commits  them,  holding  it  responsible  for  its  owa 
misdeeds,  unmitigated  by  tbofie  ol  another. 

For  the  diflference  made  between  Great  Britain  and  France,  bjr 
the  application  of  the  non-importation  act  against  England  only, 
the  motive  has  been  already  too  often  explained,  and  is  too  veil 
linown  to  retiuife  &irther  illustration.  In  the  commercial  restric- 
tions to  which  the  United  States  resorted  as  an  evidence  of  their 
vensibiiity,  and  and  a  mild  retaliation  of  tlieir  wrongs,  they  }nuari> 
ably  placed  both  powers  on  the  same  Tooting,  hold  jng  out  to  each 
in  respect  to  itself,  the  same  accommodation,  in  case  it  accepted  the 
condition  oflired,  and  in  respect  to  the  other,  thesame  restraint, if 
it  refused.  Had  the  British  government  confirmed  the  arrangement 
which  was  entered  into  by  the  British  Minister  in  I809,  and  France 
maintained  her  decrcep,  with  France  would  tiie  United  States  have 
bad  to  resirt,  with  the  finniies»  beionsiing;  to  their  character,  the  con- 
tinued violation  of  their  rigVits.  The  committee  do  not  hesitate  to 
declare,  thatFrance  has  greatly  injured  the  U.  -  State?,  and  that 
satisfactory  reparticn  has  not  yet  been  mnde  for  many  of  those  in- 
Juries.  But,  that  is  a  concern  wliirh  the  United  States  will  look  to 
and  settle  'for  themselveo.  The  high  character  of  the  American  ' 
people,  is  a  sufficient  pledge  to  the  woild,  that  they  will  not  foil  to 
settle  it,  on  conditions  which  they  have  a  ri^ht  to  claim. 

More  recently  the  true  policy  of  the  British  government  towards 
the  United  States  hns  beeen  completely  unfolded.  Jt  bas  been 
publicly  declared  by  those  in  power  that  the  orders  to  council  should 
not  be  repealed  until  the  French  government  had  revoked  all  its 
internal  restraints  on  the  British  commerce,  and  that  the  trade  of 
the  U.  Stntes  with  France  and  her  allies,  should  he  prohibited  imtil 
fircat  Britain  was  also  allowed  to  trade  with  them.  By  this  ile- 
claraticn  it  appears,  that  to  satii^fy  the  pr(;teoftions  of  the  Britiirfl< 


►  <• 


t  I 


28 


BiSTORT  OP  rSaCE   WAIT. 


p, 


governmrnt,  the  United  Ftatet  mint  join  fireat  Biitaio  in  the  V&r 
with  France,  niid  prosecute  the  war,  until  Fi a n<S^,  should  be  suh4(i- 
ed,  for  without  her  subjugation,  it  were  in  vaiigto  presume  on  $urb 
•  conce'rion.  Ti>e  hostility  of  the  British  government  to  thesestates 
haa  heen  still  further  disclosed.  It  has  been  mnde  manifest  that  the 
Vnited  States  are  eoniidrrcd  by  it  as  the  commercial  rival  of  Great 
Britain,  and  that  their  nrosp^rity  and  growth  are  incompatible  witn 
^ci*  welfare  When  all  these  circumstaufei  are  taken  Into  con- 
•iderationt  it  ia  imponible  for  your  committee  to  doubt  the  mc- 
tlves  which  have  governed  the  British  Ministry. in  all  its  measurtfl 
towarda  the  U.  States  since  the  year  I80A.  Equally  is  it  impossible 
todoubt,  longer,  the  course  wbich  the  United  States  ought  to  pursue 
tAwarda  Great  Britain 

From  this  view  of  the  multiplied  wrongs  of  the  British  govcrti' 
aaent  since  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  it  must  be  evident 
to  the  impartial  n'OrM,  that  the  contest  which  is  now  forced  on  the^ 
If.  Slate?,  \n  radically  a  contest  for  their  sovereignty  and  indepeu« 
detice>.  Your  committee  will  not  enlarge  on  any  of  the  imuries, 
however  great,  which  have  had  a  transitory  effect  They  wish  to. 
eall  the  attention  of  the  House  to  those  of^i  permanent  natureonly, 
which  intrench  so  deeply  in  our  most  important  rights,  and  wound  so 
extensively  and  vhallv  our  best  interests,  as  could  not  fail  to  de- 
pnive  the  U.  States  of  the  principal  advantages  of  their  revolution, 
if  sunmitted  to.  The  control  of  our  commerce  by  Great  Britain,  in 
regulating  at  pleasure  nnd  expelling  it  almost  from  the  ocean;  the 
oppressive  manner  in  which  these  regulations  have  heen  carried  inta 
eflect,  by  seizing  and  confiscating  such  of  our  vessels  with  their' can- 
goes,  as  were  said  to  haveviolatra  her  edicts,  often  without  previpua 
wacning  of  their  dancer  ;  the  impressment  of  our  citizens  from  on 
hoiird  our  own  vessels,  on  the  hiiehseas,  and  elsewhere,  and  holding 
them  in  bondageuntil  it  suited'the  convenience  of  their  oppressors 
to  deliver  them  up,  are  encroachments  of  that  high  and  dangerous 
teodency  which  could  not  fail  to  produce  that  peruicioufl  effect,  jior: 
Would  those  be  the  only  consequences  that  would  result  from  it— 
The  British  government  might,  for  a  while,  he  satisfied  with  theas- 
Vtidency  thus  gained  over tis,  but  its  pretensions  would  soon' in* 
crrn>e.  The  proof,  which  so  complete  and  disgraceful  a  submission 
to  its  anthorily  wohIJ  afford  of  our  degeneracy,  could  not  fail  to  in- 
spire confidence  that  there  was  no  limit  to  which  its  usurpations 
and  our  degradation  might  not  he  carried.  «' 

Your  committee,  believing  that  the  free- born  sons  of  America  are 
worthy  to  enjoy  the  liberty  whicli  their  fathers  purchased  at  the 
price  of  so  much  blood  nnd  treasure,  and  seeing,  in  tKe  m^^asures  a- 
doptcdby  Grpal  Britain,  a  course  commrnced  anil  persisted  in,  wliicht 
might  lead  to  a  losa  of  national  character  and  independence,  feel  no 
hesitation  in  advisini  resistance  hy  force,  in  which  the 'Americana 
•f  the  present  day  will  prora  to  the  encm.v  and  to  the  world,  that  we 
have  not  only  inherited  that  liberty^  which  our/atliersgave  us,  but 
also  the  will,  and  POWER  to  maintain  it.  Relying  on  the  patriot- 
ism of  the  nation,  and  conGdently  trusting,  that  the  Lord  of  Hosts 
will  go  with  us  to  battle  in  a  righteous  cn'use,  and  crown  our  efforts 
with  sQccesr^your  committee  recommend  an  immediate  arpeal  tV 

.  ARliS. 


BISTOBT  OF   THE   WI.R4 


29- 


The  report  was,  after  two  ineffectual  motions 
to  have  Ihe  doors  opened,  ordered  to  He  on  the 
taUIe. 

Air.  Calhoun,  IVotn  the  same  committeey  on 
leave  given^  presented  a  bill,  declaring  war  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  her  dependencies,  and 
the  United  States  and  their  territories.  Thi» 
bill  was  warmly  opposed  and  debated  for  two 
days;  when  the  question  being  taken,  shall  the 
said  bill  pass^  It  was  resolved  in  the  affirma- 
tive. 

The  Yead  and  Nays  were  af*  follows  : 

YEAS. 

Jfew-Hampshire*  Sinsmoor,  Hall,  and  Har^ 
ptr — S. 

Massachusetts,  Seaver,  CikrVf  Greeny  Rich-- 
lardson,  Tnrner,  and  "Widgery — 6. 

Mhode-Island,    None. 

Vermont,    Fisk,  Shaw,  and  Strong- -s;^ 

Connecticut,    None- 

^eW'Vork,    Pond,  Av€ry,  and  Sage — 3^ 

^ew-Jersey,     Condit  and  Morgan — 2. 

Pennsylvanitti  Seybert,  Andersdn,  Browne 
iRoberts,  Findley,  Sniilie,  Lyle,  Whitehill,  Bard,* 
Davis,  Lefever,  Hyneman,  Piper,  Laeoek^. 
Crawford,  and  Smith — 16. 

Delaware.    None. 

Maryland,  Kent,  Little,  llI^Kira,  Hinggoldi^* 
Brown,  and  Archer, — 6. 

Virginia,  Nelson,  Gholson,  Goodwjrn,  New- 
ton, Taliaferro,  Dawson,  Basset,  Smith,  Hawes,. 
Boane,  M^Koy,  Pleasant8>^  Clopton,  and  Bur«- 
W€ll' — 14. 

J^Torth-Carolina,  Alston^  B]^ckle(%e,  M^con3» 
King,  Coehran,  and  Pickens.^— 6. 

South'  Caroiina,  William s,  Cheveis^  IiOWndea>» 
Butler^  CalhOBD^  Earle,  Winn,  and^Hooce.-- #;- 


' 

^ 

' 


'v 


80 


BIlSTOST  OF  THE  WAB. 


Georgia*    Troup»  Bibb,  and  Hall.-^S. 

Kentucky,  Johnson^  Desha,  New>^M*Kee> 
and  Oruisby. — 5. 

Tennessee,    Rbea,  Grundy,  and  Sevier. — S, 

Ohio*    Morrow.^— 1. 

NAYS. 

^eW'^mpshire,  Bartlett,  and  Sullivan.— S* 
.  JWassaehusetts,  Qui^cj^,  Reed,  Taggart,  Kly, 
Brigbfini>  White,  Tallman,  and  iVheaton. — 8^ 

Mhode*lsland,    Potter,  and  Jackson.— 2. 

Vermont,    Chittenden. — 1. 

Connecticut,  Sturges,  Davenport,  Moselyi 
Champton,  Tallmadge,  Pitkin,  and  Law. — 7. 

J^eW'Fork,  Bleecker,  Emot,  Cooke,  Fiteh, 
Cold,  Sammons,  Sio^r,  Tracy,  Van  Cortlan^t^ 
Mitehill,  and  Metcalf.— 11. 

JVew-JerstyM  Boyd,  Hafty^  MaxveU,  and 
IVewboId, — if, 

JPrnmsylvania,    Milnor,  and  RodniaB.--2. 
^JDetaware,    Ridgely. — 1. 

Marylmd*  Key,  Goidsborougb,  and  Stewr 
Mi, — a. 

Virginia,  Randolph,  Lewis^  Baker,  Breckr 
^nridge,  and  Wilson. — 5. 

JV*ortfe- Carolina.  Pearson^  M<Bryde,  and 
Stanford. — 3. 

South-Carolina,    None. 

Georgia,    None. 

.Kentuc^.    None; 

Tennessee,    None» 

QMo*^    None. 

Teas     7^ 
Nays    4>9 

Majority  fop  War     8C 
On  the  6th  of  June,  a  confidential  message 
tras  veceived  by  the  Senate,  from  the  House  of 


UISTOBT  OF  TBS  WAB. 


Representatives^  by  Mr.  Maeon  and  Mr.'  Find- 
lejy  two  of  itieir  members — Mr.  Macon>  chair- 
man : 

«  Mr.  President — The  House  of  Representa- 
tives have  passed  a  bill,  entitled  <  An  act  de- 
claring war  between  Great^Britain  and  her  de- 
pendencies,  and  the  United  States  <and  their 
territories ;'  in  which  they  ask  the  concurrence 
of  the  Senate ;  and  request  that  the  bill  be  con- 
sidered (confidentially."    And  they  withdrew. 

The  bill,  from  the  House  of  Representatives^ 
was  before  the  Senate,  from  day  to  day,  until 
the  17th  June.  It  underwent  a  very  enlarged 
discussion,  met  with  much  and  violent  oppo- 
sition, but  finally  passed  that  body  on  the  latter 
day;  there  appearing  for  its  passage  19;  against 
it,  13. 

The  act  was  passed  into  a  law  on  the  i8th>  in 
the  following  words : 

AN  ACT 

Declaring  War  hehveen  the  United  t3ngdom  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  and  the  dependen- 
cies  thereof  9  and  the  ifnited  States  of  Ameriea 
and  their  territories, 

BE  it  enacted  hy  the  Senate  and  House  ofEe* 
'presentatives  of  the  United  States  of  America  in 
Congress  assembled.  That  WAR  be,  and' the 
same  is  hereby  declared  to  exist  between  the 
United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
and  the  dependencies  thereof,  and  the  United 
States  of  America  and  their  territories ;  and  that 
the  President  of  the  United  States  be,  and  he  is 
hereby  authorised  to  use  the  whole  land*  and 
naval  force  of  the  United  States  to  carry  the 
same  into  effeet,  and  to  issue  16  private  armed 
vessels  of  th«  United  Stiitcs  commissioiis  op  let- 


sz 


UISTORT  OF  Tins  WAB. 


' , 


'^  . 


ters  of  marque  and  general  reprisal,  in  sucli 
form  as  he  shall  think  proper,  and  under  the 
seal  of  the  United  States,  against  the  vessels, 
floods,  and  eflbots  of  the  government  of  the  same 
United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland^ 
and  the  subjects  thereafr 
June  ±S,  181:2* 

APPROVED,  JAMES  MADISON, 

On  the  ffjlowing  day  (i9th  June)  war  was 
declared,  by  proclamation,  the  injunction  of  se- 
crecy being  previously  removed  in  both  houses 
of  Congress. 

A  peace  of  nearJy  30  years,  during  which  the 
Americans  attended  but  little  to  improvenaents 
in  the  arts  of  war,  rendered  theni  apparently  a 
very  unequal  match  for  a  nation  whose  armiea 
and  navies  were  more  numerous  than  they  had 
been  at  any  former  period.  The  best  friends  of 
America  feared  much  for  the  fate  of  ihe  little 
American  navy.  It  was  also  supposed  that  our 
iradiseiplined  armies  must  experience  several 
defeats  from  the  well  trained  regulars  of  Eng- 
land ;  but  those,  who  knew  any  thing  of  the  rev- 
olutionary war,  felt  no  doubt  as  to  what  would 
be  the  event  of  the  present.  The  wonderful' 
oxploits  and  happy  issue  that  remains  to  be  re* 
eordedy  will  show,  that  even  the  \^armest  en- 
thusiasts did  not  probably  antieipate  renown  and^ 
glory  soeh  as  was  in  store  for  Americans. 

The  pu|>lie  prints,  on-  both  sides,  were  warr  v 
ifl'theip  denuneiations  of  their  respective  oppo* 
vents,  and  threats  of  what  would  and  could  be 
performed.  The  following  are  giveik  a»  s£eei<- 
Biens. 

From  the  London  Cpurier^ 

^«  A»ierie»  Ji]iow»  not  ^at  the  vigor  of  ttr 


BISTOBT   OF  THB    WABV 


35 


British  empire  increases  with  the  necessity  of 

exerting  it that  our  elasticity  rises  with  the 

pressure  upon  us — that  difficulties  only  make  us 
more  firm  and  undaunted — that  dangers  only 
give  us  the  additional  means  of  overcoming 
them.  It  is  in  such  a  state  of  affairs,  in  such  a 
great  crisis,  that  a  nation  like  Great  Britain  be- 
comes greater.  We  are  now  the  cnly  bulwark 
ofjiberty  in  the  world— placed,  a  little  spot, 
a  ^eck  almost  on  the  ocean,  between  the  old 
and  the  new  world,  we  are  contend ing  with 
both ;  with  one  arm  we  are  beating  the  armii-s 
of  the  master  of  the  continent  of  Europe,  and 
with  the  other  we  shall  smiU  his  Prefect  on  t/^ 
Continent  of  nAmerka,** 

From  the  JiTew-Fork  Morning  Poet,         p. 

^<TVith  a  stone  and  a  sling  only,  America  coiii»i 
menced  If  e  war  of  Independence.  Without  armsy 
without  clothing,  without  money,  and  without 
credit,  we  took  the  field;  relying  upon  stout 
hearts,  and  the  assistance  of  God  for  the  sue- 
oess  of  a  righteous  cause.  The  event  has  prov- 
ed,  that  with  such  reliances,  a  nation  has  noth- 
ing to  fear.  Our  country  has  again  thrown  it- 
self upon  the  protection  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  $ 
we  need  but  prove  faithful  to  him  and  to  our- 
selves. Victory  will  again  crown  our  eflTopts, 
and  peace  and  plenty  reward  us  for  our  toils. 
AYho,  that  is  truly  an  American,  will  despair  of 
the  success  of  his  country;  who  wi]fdftre4o  be- 
lieve we  can  be  otherwise  than  I50NQUER- 
ORS?  \Ye  had  imagined  this  impossible,  except 
with  .the  agents  of  the  enemy ;  yet,  in  a  crisis 
so  important,  not  only  to  us,  but  to  posterity, 
we  have  found  that  the  spirit  of  treason  has  dar- 
ed to  stalk-  abroad^  even  at  noonday,  aniongst 


i^ 


MISTOmT  OV  THB  WAB. 


'■r- 


«•.  Is  the  Qnemy  so  strong  in  the  eamp— 
•onfident  of  support)  as  to  hazard  a  fearless  de- 
ftance  ?  We  we,  it  is  true,  proud  to  exist  in  a 
land  of  freedom-but  \vhen  men  threaten  us  with 
l^iving  the  assistance  of  their  pens  to  the  cause 
•f  our  adversaries,  vfho  will  hesitate  to  say  that 
8ueh  freedom  becomes  traitorous?'' 

The  state  of  the  regular  armj  wasy  at  this 
time,  such  as  scarcely  to  deserve  the  name.-^ 
The  militiiy  with  the  exception  of  a  few  Ibi- 
form  companies  in  the  cities^  consisted  of  a  yeo- 
manry and  others  accustomed  to  parade  for  a 
few  hours  each  year,  some  with  bad  arms,  oth<« 
•r8»  without  any,  The  preparations  for  war  on 
thQ  land  was  confined  to  an  expedition  under 
the  eommand  of  General  Hull)  of  which  notic« 
will  be  taken  in  the  proper  place.  The  navy 
•onsisted  of  the  following  vesseh. 

JAH  of  American  VesaeUf  and  their  force^ 


itated. 

MoantioE. 

Constitution, 

44* 

58 

Capt.  Hull 

United  States, 

44* 

68 

Decatur 

President, 

44 

58 

Com.  Rodgers 

Chesapeake^ 

36 

^ 

Ordinary 

ITeW'York, 

S6 

^ 

do. 

Constellation^ 

36 

44 

do. 

Congress^ 

36 

44 

Capt.  Smith 

Bo9ton> 

SZ 

Owlinary 

Essex, 

32 

Capt.  Porter 

jLdains> 

32 

Ordinary 

CORVETTE. 

John,Adams> 

26 

Capt.  Ludlow 

^ 

SHIF8  OF  WA&. 

"Wasp, 

16 

18 

Capt.  Jones 

Hornet^ 

16 

18 

Xiftwrenc* 

mmm>«^- 


BISTOKT  09  THX  WAB. 


85 


BRIGS. 


Siren* 

Argus, 

Oneida* 


16 


Lieut.  Caroll 
.  Crane 
Com.  ^oolsey 


Tixen» 

Nautilus, 

Enterprise* 

Viper, 

170  Gun  Boats* 


SCHOONEBS. 
12 
12 
12 
12     V 


i 


Ordinary. 


Lieut.  Gadsen 
Sinclair 
niakcly 
V  Bainbridge 

Capt.  Shaw 

BOMBS. 

Yengeance* 
Spifire* 
iRtna* 
Vesuvius* 

Commodore  Rodeers,  being  at  New-Tork*  on 
receiving  the  President's  proclamation*  announ- 
cing war*  addressed  his  men  on  the  occasion* 
o^erin^  their  wages  and  a  discharge  to  such  as 
were  unwilling  to  risk  their  lives  with  him.  A 
general  huzza  preceded  the  declaration  of  every 
individual  to  «  stand  or  fall  with  the  commo- 
dore." The  anchor  was  heaved,  and*  before 
night*  the  commodoire  passed  the  light-bouse  of 
Sandy-Hook,  and  proceeded  to  sea?  having  un- 
der his  command*  the  frigates  President*  United 
States,  up^  Congress*  and  the  sloops  of  war 
Hornet  and  Argus.  The  commodore  returned 
to  Boston  after  a  cruise  of  72  days,  during 
which  he  passed  within  one  day's  sail  of  the  Bri- 
tish chaimel*  passed  near  the  Island  of  Madeira^- 
and  the  Azores,  and  returned  by  the  banks  of 
Newfoundland  and  cape-Sable.  He  made  ¥ 
captures  and  i  recapture;  and  chased  two  Bri- 
tish frigates,  one  of  them,  the  Belvidera.  This 
cruise  was  of  great  benefit,  as  it  compelled  the 


^ 


HISTORY   OF  TUB  I^R. 


enemy  to  oonecntrate  his  force»  by  which  a  vast 
quantity  of  property  wai  saved  from  falliog  iiko 
the  enemy's  hands. 

On  tlie  day  after  the  eommodore  sailed,  the 
followine  appeared  in  the  New- York  Coluin- 
hian*  and  aeeounts  for  the  escape  of  his  Britan- 
nic Mi\jes(y'8  vessels  of  war  Belvideri^  and  Tar- 
tarus which  had  been  for  some  days  off  Sandy 
Iluolc. 

<*  It  is  nntloubtedly  a  fact,  that  dispatch-boats 
with  information  have  been  sent  off  to  the  Brit- 
ish vessels  which  were  cruising  off  the  harbor, 
since  the  dechiration  of  war.  By  xvhom  tliey 
were  sent  off,  it  is  not  necessary  at  present  to 
mention.  But  this  much  may,  and  ougitt  to  bo 
said-i-that  if  it  wus  done  by  an  American  citi- 
zen* he  has  committed  treason  by  the  laws  of 
the  United  States,  and  deserves,  and  may  receive 
a  hanging  for  it.  There  is  no  suspicion,  how- 
ever, entertained,  that  such  an  infamous  act  has  * 
been  done  by  any  American.  As  it  has  there- 
fore been  the  act  of  the  subjects  of  the  kinje  of 
England,  whether  tbey  are  in  or  out  of  office, 
the  act  is  a  violation  of  the  hospitality  which 
tolerates  their  residenee  in  our  city*  and  calls 
loudly  upon  the  constituted  authorities  to  pu-t 
the  laws  immediately  in  force  against  alien  en- 
emies, and  to  rid.  the  city  of  spies,  or  at  Ica^t 
of  sufih  as  disgraee  their  eliaracter  by  aeting  in 
so  infamous  a  capacity.'' 

It  is  however  a  lamentable  fact  that  the  ene- 
my liad  his  adherents  within  the  0nited  States, 
consisting  of  native  citizens  as  well  as  of  for- 
eigners. The  public  were  apprized  of  the  in- 
famous and  cowardly  means  used  by  the  Rrkisli 
to  corrupt  the  citizens  by  the  afi;<'ney  of  hired 
Ifieeudiaries^  among  whom  the  notorious  John 


UtvTORT  •«  Tilt   WAB« 


i7 


Henru  was  conspicuous.  The  first  effusions  of 
the  press  were  watched  Willi  caro,  and  the  citi- 
zens indignant  at  the  conduct  of  the  British  gov- 
ern ment,  whicli  rendered  war  not  only  ncceHsn- 
ry,  but  unavoidable,  wore  ready  to  construe 
every  opposition  to  government,  into  an  a«t  of 
adhesion  t<r  the  enemy.  Tlie  spirit  of  1776 
seemed  to  revive*  and  the  terms  "  Whig"  and 
«<Tory"  were  again  coming  into  use.  The 
party»  which  designated  itself  as  «  Federal/' 
was  long  opposed  to  the  ofllccrs  of  the  general 
government ;  and  were  in  the  practice  of  eon- 
denmingt  opposing,  and  thwarting  all  its  mea- 
sures. This  party,  to  he  consistent,  also  op- 
posed the  war. — There  was  another  party  op- 
posed to  war,  merely  because  it  must  prove  in- 
jurious to  England ;  this  was  properly  a  British 
lory-party,  and  should  be  distinguished  from 
,lhose  federalists,  who,  notwithslanding  their 
opposition  to  wen,  were  yet  Jhnencans.  I1ic 
tory  endeavoured  to  screen  himself  beneath  the 
semblance  of  federalism;  and  the  federalist, 
who  could  weakly  lend  the  mask,  should  not 
Gomplain,  if  both  should  be  mistakes  for  tories. 
.  There  were  several  editors  of  Federal  politics 
"who  deserved  and  received  the  applause  of  (hcif 
political  opponents  for  conduct  pursued  imme-' 
diaiely  suhsequent  to  the  declaration  of  wau. 
The  following  extract  from  a  federal  paper  de- 
serves particular  notice. 

From  tftc  Uhited  States^  GaKette^  printed  at 

rhiladelplm. 

"The  people  of  this  country,  whatever  may  be 
their  opinions  of  this  incomprehensible  war,  de- 
mand, and  will  insist,  that  it  be  now  carried  on 
>t}fli  <!!C  \^\f^vvr<<{'^-'^-^.rv  fo  nefTJiy^J^M^h  tlio  oh*' 


i) 


58 


HISTORY   OF   TUB    WAR. 


ject  of  all  war,  honor  while  ii  lasts,  and  real 
peace  and  seeurit;^  when  it  ends." 

A  paragraph  of  a  seemingly  different  com- 
plexion, appeared  immediately  after  the  decla- 
ration of  war,  in  the  «  Federal  Republican," 
printed  at  Baltimore,  and  edited  by  Mr.  Wag- 
ner.   It  was  in  the  following  words  : 

«  AVe  mean  to  represent  in  as  strong  colors 
as  we  are  capable,  that  the  war  is  unnecessary, 
inexpedient,  and  entered  into  from  partial  per- 
sonal, and  as  we  believe,  motives  bearing  upon 
their  front  marks  of  undisguised  foreign  influ- 
ence which  cannot  be  mistaken.  We  mean  to 
ui^e  every  means  of  constitutional  argument  and 
every  legal  means  to  render  as  odious  and  sus- 
picious to  the  American  people,  as  they  deserve 
to  be,  the  patrons  and  contrivers  of  this  highly 
irtipolitio  and  destructive  war,  in  the  fullest  per- 
suasion, that  we  shall  be  supported  and  ulti-. 
mately  applauded  by  nine-tentbs  of  our  country- 
men, and  that  our  silence  would  be  treason  to 
them.** 

The  citizens,  in  a  state  of  high  irritation^ 
^'  Foceeded  in  the  evening  cf  the  22dJune,to  Mr. 
'>Vagner*s  printing  olQce,  which  was  destroyed. 
This  procedure  was  followed  by  some  rioting ; 
\\m\  the  paper  was  removed  to  Georgetown 
(€v')l.)  where  it  Continued  to  be  printed. 

Ony  the  7th  July,  an  order  was  Issued  from 
the  department  of  state  of  the  United  States,  re- 
quiring ull  British  suojects  lo  regiftcr  their 
jianies,  age^^,  places  of  residence,  persons  com- 
posing their  families,  &;e.  at  the  office  of  the 
marshal  cf  tLie  United  States  for  the  district  in 
which  such  subjects  resided.  This  order  was 
j(b)]owecl  by  otlier«i  directing  alien  enemies,  wh» 
W9(c  Qn^^aged  ia  foreign  comisicrce;  to  remove 


BISTORT  or  THE   WAS. 


Sd 


from  the  vicinity  of  the  sea  op  tide  water.  The 
information  constantly  conveyed  to  the  encmy^ 
from  the  ports  and  harbours  of  the  United 
States,  was  supposed  to  render  such  a  measure 
necessary.  It  would  be  much  to  the  honor  of 
the  citizens  if  this  treasonable  intercourse  with 
the  enemy  were  confined  to  aliens ;  subsequent 
information*  obtained  at  the  n^y  department 
of  the  United  States,  has  sufficiently  proved  that 
several  profligate  citizens  have  also  held  com- 
tiaunications  with  and  supplied  the  wants  of  the 
enemy. 

''  A  cartel  ship  arrived  in  July,  at  Boston,  from 
Halifax  and  delivered,  on  board  the  U.  States 
frigate  Chesapeake,  three  seamen,  formerly  ta- 
ken out  of  that  frigate,  by  the  British  frigate 
Leopard. 

It  will  be  recollected  (hat  the  Leopard  attack- 
ed the  Chesapeake  in  time  of  peace,  while  the 
latter  was  unsuspicious  of  an  attack  and  unpre- 
pared for  defence.  The  Chesapeake  was  fireil 
into,  boarded,  and  these  men  taken  by  force 
from  her. 

Ke monstrance  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States  was  made  to  the  British  government,  and 
redress  demanded  for  this  wanton  breach  of  the 
laws  of  nations.  The  British  government  dis- 
avowed  any  agency  in  the  act ;  but  yet  promo- 
ted the  commander  of  the  Leopard,  not  to  tlio 
yard-arm  of  a  ship,  but  to  the  ^^omniand  of  a  74« 
The  restoration  of  these  men  had  been,  forsomp 
time.,  promised  by  the  British  government ;  it 
was  pleasing  to  see  it  effected  so  so<u  after  the 
declaration  of  war.  Whether  the  war  had  ar.y 
influence,  in  this  transaction,  must  be  matter  of 
conjecture,  in  which  the  veadcr  *  will  excrci^ 
bis  own  opinion. 


"»,.' 


*(r 


BtStOHY  CV  XII£  vfxn. 


Iliis  is  not  the  only  instance  in  whieU  war 
produced  a  change  to  tlivose  Ameiueans  irho  were 
Impressed  and  confined  on  board  British  mcfn  of 
war.  Several  of  them,  having  declined  serving 
against  their  country,  were  sent  to  prison,  as 
prisoners  of  war,  and  became  entitled  to  be  lib- 
erated by  exchange.  This  mode  of  treating 
'ihern^  after  <li^r  character  as  American  citi- 
zenii  \fH9  acknowledged,  was  ccrtaialy  unjust; 
they  should  have  been  fully  released  ;  not  hav- 
iyig  been  taken  in  time  of  war,  or  in  arms,  they 
>>ere  entitled  to  rank  as  non-combatants. 

f^n  the  12th  July,  Mr.  Foster  th^  late  Britibh 
:itninister,  and  Mr.  Barclay,  late  consul,  departed 
iVom  the  United  States,  at  New-York,  on  board 
the  JBritish  flag  of  truce,  Colibri.  These  gen* 
llemen  were  much  esteemed  for  their  private 
amiable  quail des. 

The  first  British  victoi'y  over  the  American 
fleet,  happened  on  the  20th  July.  On  this  day^ 
the  United  States'  schooner  Nautilus,  lieutenant 
Crane,  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  the  enemy,  and  was 
captured,  after  a  chase  of  eight  hours.  No 
Jibnour  was  lost  by  the  Americans  on  this  oc- 
casion ;  the  vast  disparity  of  force,  rendered  re- 
sistance as  imprudent  as  it  would  be  unavailing. 
1'he  brave  commander's  sword  was  returned,  by 
t  le  British  oflicer.  Com.  Brooke,  as  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  skill  and  bravery  with 
v/hich  he  endeavoured  to  save  his  ship.  Lieut. 
Crane  and  his  crew  were  afterwards  honourably 
acquitted,  by  a  court  >f  enquiry,  of  all  censure 
in  the  loss  of  the  Nautilus. 

On  the  27th  of  this  same  month,  the  frigate 
Constitution,  captain  Hull,  chased  a  British  fri' 
gate  into  a  British  fleet,  and  was  chased  in  turn, 
by  the  cnemy>  eonsistiag  of  a  ship  of  Iho  line^ 


HISTO'RY  0*  THE  WAR. 


41 


foar  fh'gates,  a  brig  and  a  schooner.  The  chtistfi 
continued  60  hours.  The  Constitution  arrlfec} 
safe  in  Boston.  The  i^reat  address,  by  which 
captain  Hull  ^aved  his  ship,  drew  forth  the  ad- 
miration of  the  enemy,  and  the  applause  of  his 
country  mem 

.  It  was  the  wish  of  the  Americans,  as  the/ 
also  endeavoured  in  a  fot'mer  war,  to  induce  th^ 
Indians  to  be  neutrai.  Humanity  and  civiliza- 
tion  plead  in  favour  of  a  principle  which  wouhl 
not  add  savagtk)  barbarity  to  the  other  evils  of 
war ;  but,  unfoi^tunatelv^he  policy  of  a  «  mag^ 
naniKnous"  enemy,  was^BflTerent.  The  Ameri- 
cans soon  learned  that  the  enemy  hail  leagued 
himself  with  the  ruthless  savage  of  the  wilder- 
ness ;  the  known  warfare  of  the  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife  was  to  act  in  concert  with  the 
modern  invention  of  rockets;  in  stiort  all  means 
within  the  power  of  the  enemy,  were  to  be  eom- 
bined  against  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

The  first  act  in  which  the  allied  Indians  and 
British  signalized  themselves  was  in  the  taking 
•f  the  fort  of  MichilrmaekfnHC,  on  the  ITth  ^f 
July,  1 81 2,  not  being  apprizi'd  of  thedecl'aration 
of  war.  Tire  garrison  consisted  of  63  men,  and  *7 
on  board  two  vessels  in  the  hm'bour.  The  aft- 
Kes  consisted  of  about  700, 

The  probability  of  an  approaching  war  hail 
determined  the  United  Stales'  government  to 
station  a  competent  force  in  the  Michigan  Ter- 
ritory, for  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants^ 
against  the  incursion  of  the  enemy  ;  as  well  a« 
for  the  purpose  of  acting  offer, si vely*  if  sueU 
should  be  deemed  prudent.  Genernl  Hull  haif 
been  at  the  .seat  of  government  in  the  sprinii; 
previous  to  the  declaration  of  war,  where  h© 
wuule  arrangements  for  couductiug  a  force  t% 


I 


•jb2 


BISTORT  or  THE  WAll. 


Detroit.  He  accordingly  proceeded,  and  bein^ 
joined  by  the  4th  United  States'  i-eeiment,  1200 
Ohio  militia  and  otber  troops,  in  all  about  2500 
men,  he  reached  th(^  rapids  of  the  Miami  of  the 
lake,  about  the  last  of  June.  The  General  put 
on  board  a  YesseU  the  baggage  and  hospital 
stores  of  the  arm/,  with  an  officer  and  SO  men, 
with  directions  to  sail  for  Detroit.  The  Brii 
tish  having  been  apprized  of  the  declaration  of 
war,  captured  the  vessel  at  fort  Maiden,  moutk 
of  Detroit  river ;  and  thus  the  army  suffered  a 
serious  loss.  ^j^ 

On  the  evening  of  the  12th  July,  general  Hull 
orossed  the  river  Detroit,  which  divides  the 
United  States'  territory  of  Michigan  from  th© 
llritish  province  of  Upper  Canada,  and  fixed  Uis 
head  quarters  at  the  town  of  Sandwich,  abotit 
two  miles  within  th«  British  province.  From 
this  place  he  published  a  proclamation,  of  which, 
the  following  is  a  copy : 

BY  WILLIAM  HULL, 

Brigadier  General  and  Commander  of  the  JWrffA 
JIVestern  army  of  the  United  States: 

A  PROCLAMATION. 

INHABITANTS  aF  CaNADA^ 

After  thirty  years  of  peace  and  prosperity* 
^^e  United  States  h^ve  been  driven  to  armst 
*|iie  injuries  and  aggressions,  the  insults  andin<- 
dignities  of  Great- Britain  hare  once  more  left 
them  no  alternative  but  manly  resistance  or  un- 
eondltional  submission.  The  army  under  my 
CQWRiimd  has  invaded  your  country  f^the  stand- 
ard of  the  Union  now  waves  over  the  territory 
«f  Canada.  To  the  peaceable  unoffending  in** 
habitants,  it  brings  neither  danger  nor  difficulty* 
I  eome  to  find  enemies,  not  to  make  tkem.  I 
Htme  it  protect  set  to  iiyure  yoa. 


/ 

I 


HiSTOBT  07  THL  WAB4 


4^ 


Separated  bj  an  immense  ocean  and  an  ex- 
tent he  \¥ildei*ness  from  Great  Britain,  you  have 
no  participation  in  her  councils^  no  interest  in 
her  conduct.  Vou  have  felt  her  tyranny  ;  you 
have  seen  her  injustice  \  but  1  do  not  ask  you 
to  avenge  the  one,  or  to  redress  the  other.  The 
tjnited  States  are  sufficiently  powerful  to  afford 
every  security,  consistent  with  thbir  rights  and 
your  expectations.  I  tender  you  the  invaluable 
blessing  of  civil,  political  and  religious  liberty, 
and  their  necessary  result,  individual  and  gen« 
eral  prosperity  \  that  liberty  which  gave  deci- 
sion to  our  councils,  and  energy  to  our  conduct 
in  a  struggle  for  independence,,  which  conducted 
us  safely  and  triumphantly  through  the  stormy 
period  of  the  revolution — the  liberty  which  hat^ 
raised  us  to  an  elevai^^d  rank  among  the  nations 
of  the  world  ;  and  which  afforded  us  a  greater 
measure  of  peace  and  selcurity,  of  wealth  and 
improtement,  than  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  any 
people.  In  the  name  of  my  country,  and  the 
authority  of  government,  I  promise  you  protec- 
tion to  your  persons;  property  and  rights ;  re- 
main at  your  homes ;  pursue  your  peaceful  and 
•ustomary  avocations ;  raise  not  your  hands 
against  your, brethren.  Many  of  your  fathers 
fought  for  the  freedom  and  independence  w& 
aow  enjoy.  Being  children  therefore  of  the 
»ame  family  with  us,  and  heirs  to  the  same 
heritage,  the  arrival  of  an  army  of  friends  must 
be  hailed  by  you  with  a  cordial  ^dcome.  You 
"will  be  emancipated  from  tyranny  and  oppres- 
sion, and  festered  to  the  dignified  station  of 
1ft*eedom.  Had  I  any  doubt  of  eventual  success* 
I  might  ask  your  assistance,  but  1  do  hot.  I 
oome  prepared  for  every  conting^cy — I  have  g 
Ibree  \rhich  idU  break  down  sili  opposith>n;  and 


44 


HisTosy  or  the  war. 


that  force  is  but  the  van-guard  of  n  much  great-* 
er.  If,  contrary  to  your  own  interest,  ami  the 
just  expectations  of  my  country*  you  should  take 
part  in  the  approaching  contest,  you  will  be 
considered  and  treated  as  enc'mies,  and  the  hor- 
rors and  calamities  of  war  will  stalk  before  you. 
If  the  barbarous  and  savage  policy  of  Great 
Britain  be  pursued,  and  tiie  savages  are  let 
loose  to  murder  our  citizens,  and  butcher  our 
women  and  children,  this  war  will  be  a  war  of 
extermination.  The  first  stroke  of  the  toma- 
hawk— the  fjrst  attempt  with  the  scalping- 
knife,  will  be  the  signal  of  one  indiscriminate 
scene  of  desolation.  No  white  man  found  fight- 
ing, ly'  the  side  of  an  Indian  will  be  taken  pri- 
sonel^ — instant  death  will  be  his  lot.  IftJie 
dictates  of  reason,  duty*  justice  and  hnmanity^ 
cannot  prevent  the  employment  of  a  force  which 
respects  no  rights,  and  knows  no  wrong,  it  will 
be  prevented  by  a  severe  and  relentless  system 
df  retaliation.  I  doubt  not  your  courage  and 
firmness — I  wrill  not  doubt  yoirr  attachment  to 
libetty.  If  you  tender  your  services  volunta- 
rily, they  will  be  accepted  readily.  The  United 
States  offer  you  peace,  liberty  and  security. — ' 
Your  choice  lies  between  these  and  war,  slavery 
and  destruction.  Choose  then  ;  but  choose  wisc^ 
ly;  and  may  he  who  knows  the  justice  of  oui» 
«ause,  and  who  holds  in  his  hand  the  fate  of 
nations,  guide  you  to  a  result  the  most  com- 
patible with  your  rights  and  interests,  yoa% 
pe^iee  and  happiness. 

By  the  GeneraJr 

^  A.  V,  BULL. 

Captain  of  the  i5th  United  States*  regiment  of 

Jnfaiitryt  and  Md-de- Vamp.    Headquarters^ 

Sandwiih,  July  12, 1S12. 

WlLLlA3i  HULli* 


niSTOBT   OF  THE  WAR.' 


4^ 


This  proclamation  was  well  Galculated  to  in* 
spire  confidence  and  secure  the  friendship  of  the 
Canadians.  The  American  troops  were  in  high 
spirits.,  anxious  to  be  led  against  the  enemy's 
post  at  Fort  Maiden.  The  British  force,  con- 
sisting of  regulars,  militia  and  Indians,  was  in- 
ftrlor  to  the  American,  as  appeared  by  the  offi* 
eial  communication  of  the  British  general  Brook 
to  his  government  The  moment  seemed  fa- 
vorable to  strike  an  important,  perhaps  a  dect-' 
sivc  blow.  The  Indians,  except  a  few  of  whom 
had  joined  the  British,  remained  neutral,  ivaieh- 
log  with  their  usual  sagacity,  until  they  could 
discover  on  what  side  victory  was  likely  to  pereh  j 
nearly  all  ttie  Canadian  militia  had  deserted  ; 
the  time  of  attacking  Yort  Malflen  was  dfef  er- 
mined  on  at  a  council  of  field  trfiieers,  and  pre- 
parations commenced  for  advaiVbing  to  the  at" 
tack,  when,  by  an  unexpected  order,  the  plan  of 
attack  was  abandoned  and  Canada  ^vaeaated» 
shamefully  leaving  to  their  fate  the  CanAllians 
who  had  joined  the  American  standard.        4^ 

This  gave  time  to  the  enemy  to  be  reinfot^ 
ed,  and  it  soon  was  rumoured  in  the  American 
camp  that  the  commanding  officer  intended  to 
surrender  his  army  in  the  event  of  an  attack  by 
the  enemy.  This  seemed  so  unaccountable  tk 
a  time  when  superiority  of  force  iiias  on  the 
American  aide,  that  the  officers  had  resolved,  i<i 
the  event  of  the  rumour  being  well  founded,  to 
divest  the  general  of  his  command.  The  exe^ 
cution  of  this  plan  was  pfeventod  bjrthe  ab- 
senco  of  two  commanding  officers  tyf  reginents 
who  were  ordered  on  detachments.  The  Bri- 
tish being  reinforced  by  about  400  men,  and  the 
Indians  becoming  more  decided,  generaV  Brock 
advanceil  and  took  a  besitien  opposite  to  Detroit^ 


« 


mviQViY  OV  THE   Wilt 


lvhere«  ivitliout  interruption,  ho  estalilislicd  a 
small  bafterj. 

On.  the  Idth  August,  the  town  of  Detroit  was 
summoned  to  surrender,  which  being  refused,  a 
firing  began  from  the  British  batteries,  which 
was  returned  by  the  Americans,  and  continued, 
with  little  eifect,  until  night.  At  day -light  on 
ilie  16th,  the  firing  re-commenced  on  both 
sides,  the  enemy  commenced  the  landing  of 
troops  below  Detroit,  which  bei'ig  soon  effected, 
they  marched  in  close  column  of  platoons,  twelve 
in  front,  towards  the  fort  of  Detroit. 
'  Against  this  budy  of  troops  not  a  shot  was  ilp- 
ed,  although  it  advanced  in  a  situation  within 
the  range  of  the  American  cannon.  "When  the 
British  reached  within  100  yards  of  the  Ameri- 
can line,  orders  were  given  by  Gen.  Hull  for  the 
troops  to  retreat  to  the  fort ;  and  soon  after,  the 
fort  was  suTi  endered,  and  the  American  army 
became  prisoners  .of  war. 
'  Ry  a  proclamation  inimediately  issued  by  the 
British  commander,  (Gren.  Brock,)  it  appears 
^at  General  Hull  had  also  surrendered  the  ter- 
ritory of  Michigan. 

This  w  as  a  severe  and  unexpected  hi  o w  against 
the  Americans.  It  gave  rise  to  a  court-martial 
on  the  conduct  of  geneVal  Hull,  which  will  be 
noticed  in  its  proper  place ;  it,  in  a  great  degree, 
destroyed  the  confidence  the  Canadians  had  in 
the  government  and  arms  of  the  United  States  ; 
it  determined  the  Indians  to  take  part  with  the 
enemy  ;  and  led  not  only  to  a  prolongation  of 
the  war,  but  to  many,  or  perhaps  all  of  those 
.savage  acts  of  murder,  in  which  the  Indiana 
were  subsequently  engaged,  against  the  citizens 
of  the  United  States. 
.  Genera!  Hull;,  in  his  ofGoial  accuaot*  states;^ 


tfrnn"^**- 


BISTORY   0¥  THE  VIS* 


47 


that  at  the  time  the  enemy  ailvanced  ngainBt 
Detroit*  he  could  not  bring  into  the  field  more 
than  600  men,  that  the  regular  force  of  the  en- 
emy,  then  advancing,  was  much  more  than  that 
number,  and  twice  that  number  of  Indians. 

An  official  letter  from  colonel  Cass,  who  had 
a  command  under  general  Hull,  putthe  business 
in  quite  a  different  lights  concluding  with  the 
following  paragraph  :  *  ' 

«  I  was  informed  by  gen.  Hull,  the  morning 
after  the  capitulation,  that  the  British  forces* 
consisted  of  1800  regulars,  and  that  he  surren- 
dered to  prevent  the  efiiision  of  human  blotid*-— 
That  he  magnified  their  regular  force  nearly 
iive-Jbld,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  M'hether  the 
philanthropic  reasou  assigned  by  him  is  a  suffi- 
cient justi&eation  for  surrendering  a  fortified 
town,  an  army  and  a  territory,  is  for  the  go- 
vernment to  determine.  Confident  I  am,  that 
had  the  courage  and  conduct  of  the  General 
been  equal  to  the  spirit  and  zeal  of  the  troops^ 
the  event  would  have  been  as  brilliant  and  suc- 
cessful as  it  now  is  disastrous  and  dishonorable/* 

The  British  official  account  is  positive  as  to 
the  inferiority  of  the  enemy's  force. 

A  few  days  before  the  surrender  of  Detroit, 
major  Van  Horn,  of  colonel  Findley's  regiment 
of  Ohio  Volunteers,  was  detached  with  about 
200  men*  to  proceed  to  the  river  Kaisin,  to  rein* 
force  captain  Brush,  who,  with  a  company  qF 
Ohio  Volunteers,  were  escorting  provisions  for 
the  army.  At  Brownstown,  a  large  party  of 
Indians  formed  an  ambuscade,  and  the  major's 
detachment  received  a  heavy  fire  at  a^few  yai^ds 
from  the  enemy.  The  whole  detaohmimt  re- 
treated in  great  disorder  ;  and  could  not,  by 
an^  es^ertioD  of  ms^or  Van  Horn;  be  rallied.—* 


^^» 


%.■ 


4.8 


HISTOUY   QV  Tllfi   W.VIl. 


<=<-'-- 


On  this  occasion,  there  v^oro  7  officers  and  10 
privates  killed,  besides  a  considei^ablc  number 
wounded. 

Before  the  return  of  major  Tan  Horn,  ano- 
ther detach mcnt  consisting  of  600  men,  under 
theoommandof  licut.  col.  Miller  was  ordered 
to  proceed  to  the  river  Raisin,  to  open  the  com- 
liiunication  to  the  river,  and  protect  the  provi- 
sions which  weri^  under  the  escort  of  captain 
Brush.  Lieut,  col.  Miller  marched  from  De- 
troit on  the  8th  \ugust ;  and  on  tlie  9th,  about 
4  o'clock  in  the  anernoon,  the  van  guard  com- 
manded by  capt.  Snclling  of  the  4th  U.  S.  regi- 
ment, was  tired  upon  by  an  extensive  line  of  In- 
dians and  British  at  the  lower  part  of  Maguago, 
about  lit  miles  from  Detroit.  Capt.  Snelliiig 
maintained  his  ground  in  a  most  gallant  man- 
ner, under  a  very  heavy  fire,  until  the  arrival 
of  the  main  body  under  lieut.  col.  Miller,  when 
a  general  attack  was  made  on  the  enemy,  who 
was  compelled  to  retreat  before  the  Americans. 
The  route  continued  until  fatigue  and  the  ap« 
'proach  of  night  rendered  it  necessary  to  desist 
irom  further  pursuit. 

A  short  time  previous  to  tlie  surrender  of  Dc^ 
troit,  a  provisional  agreement  was  entered  into 
■by  general  Dearborn,  and  colonel  Baynes,  the 
British  adjutant- general*  that  neither  party 
shouM  act  offensively  before  the  decision  of  the 
American  government  should  be  taken  on  the 
subject.  This  suspension  of  hostilities  wa& 
grounded  on  a  letter  from  Sir  George  Prevost, 
Governor  of  Lower  Canada,  to  general  Dear- 
born, fiuggesting  the  probability  of  a  general 
suspension  of  hostilities  in  consequence  of  a  pro- 
posed suspension  or  repeal  of  the  British  ordera 
«n  c9iineiU  of  v'hie'i  Mr.  l^ostor,  1st??  roi?j!^tei* 


>^A 


*WWW»»" 


BISTORY   OF  rfHi;   ^VAK. 


49 


to  the  United  Btates  h-ad  ri'ceivcti  advices  on  liis 
arrival  at  Halifax*  Whether  governor  Prevost 
seriously  believed  all  which  he  represented,  or 
that  the  suspension  of  hostilities,  M^hich  did  not 
Include  the  operations  at  Detroit,  ivas  intended 
to  favour  the  British  army  in  (hat  quarter*  can- 
not now  be  determined  ;  it,  however,  enabled 
the  British  to  reinforce  general  Brock,  and  m*o- 
bably  contributed  to  the  fall  of  Detroit.  The 
American  government,  viewing  the  British  pro- 
position afs  coming  in  an  indirect  manner,  offer- 
ing no  satisfactory  security  for  its  observanooy 
and  adhering  witii  little  variation  to  their  for- 
mer pretences,  did  not  hesitate  to  disagree  to 
the  proposal.  The  armistice  terminated  on  the 
8th  September. 

The  disgraceful  surrender  of  Detroit  was,  in 
«ome  degree,  to  be  compensate<l  for,  by  the 
bravery  of  American  seamen.  On  the  19th 
Aug.  1812,  the  Anieriean  frigate  Constitution, 
captain  Isaac  Hull,  foil  in  with  his  Britannic 
majesty's  frigate  Guerriere,  captain  J.  B.  Da- 
cres,  in  lat  40.  20  N.  Ion.  55  W.  ;  and  after  a 
aevcre  action  of  30  minutes,  during^  which  the 
Americans  displaced  great  superiority  in  tactics 
and  oour&ge,  the  British  ship  surrendered^.  % 

The  Guerriere  suffered  so  much  in  her  rig. 
ging  and  hull,  and  was  so  entirely  disabled,  that 
it  was  found  impossible  to  tow  her  into  port,  she 
was  of  coarse  burnt,  by  order  of  captain  IIull> 
as  soon  as  the  prisoners  were  removed. 

The  Guerriere  had  been  formerly  a  'French 
M  ;  but  was  rnted  only  as  38  ;  she  carried  49 
guns. 

The  following  official  accotint  ef  her  capture 
from  the  French  by  the  British  naval  captau) 
IdKviSf  placejs  this  point  in  an  indisputable  viov»> 


•V 


£0 


HISTORY   OF  THE  y/\K, 


as  (ho  advocatcB  of  Rritain,  Sorely  liiipt  by  this 
proof  of  tlie  superiority  of  Ameriuan  naval  tao- 
tiosy  endeavored  to  misrepresent  the  relative 
size  and  l\)ree  of  the  American  and  British  fri- 
gates. 

From  Capt.  La  vie  to  Lord  Keith. 

**  BUfuhtt,  YarmouUi,  July  20, 1806. 

'<  My  TiOrd — I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint 
you  of  my  return  to  Yarmouth  to-day,  having 
in  company  the  Guerriere  frigate,  commanded 
by  Monsieur  Hubert,  uf  the  Legion  of  Honour^ 
"Mhom  I  captured  on  the  19th  inst.  in  long.  62, 
off  the  Faro  Islands,  after  a  sharp  contest  of 
45  minutes. 

".  Le  Guerriere  is  of  the  largest  class  of  fri- 
gates, mounting  iifty  guns,  with  a  complement 
of  S17  men,  but  they  were  Tcry  soon  sadly  re- 
duced by  ouf  destructive  fire,  and  the  ship  has 
also  suffered  vfsry  severely,  ivhile  the  damages 
of  the  Blanche  were  eoniined  to  the  topmasts^ 
rigging  and  sails. 

"THOMAS  LA  VIE." 

The  following  is  a  return  of  the  killed  and 
%V0Hndcd : 

#14  board  the  Constitution,  one  lieutenant  of 
marines  and  six  seamen— Total  killed  7.  Two 
officers,  four  seamen  and  one  marine — ^Total 
lyounded  7.    Total  killed  and  wounded  14. 

On  board  the  Guerriere,  killed  15,  wounded 
63,  missing  27^-Total  105. 

Her  navy  was  the  chief  boast  of  England, 
and  on  it  was  her  chief  reliance  ;  yet  she  was 
destined  to  meet  her  greatest  wounds  and  dis- 
asters on  the  watery  element* 

On  the  17th  July,  the  British  appeared  before 
6ackett'8  l(ad)oury  with  the  Boyal  George  «f  i^4 


4HM»w>: 


HISTORY   OF  TUE    WAB. 


5i 


guns,  the  Pnnce  Regent  of  22,  Elniira  of  20* 
^<cnecB  of  18,  and  another  armed  vessel.  A 
mcBsage  was  sent  ashore  demanding  the  sur- 
render of  Ihc  American  vessel  of  war  the  One- 
ida ;  and  also  the  late  British  schooner  Nelson* 
seized  for  a  breaeh  of  tho  revenue  laws.  A 
compliance  with  this  demand  being  perempto- 
rily refused,  the  enemy  advanced  within  gun 
shot.  A  Bring  began  from  a  32  pounder  iiBh(trep 
and  was  returned  by  the  squadron  whioh  stbcKOt 
off  and  on.  A  brisk  cannonading  was  continued 
for  more  than  two  hours,  when  a  shot  from  tho. 
32  pounder  having  raked  tho  flag  ship  of  th(» 
enemy,  as  she  was  wearing  lo  give  another 
broadside,  the  squadron  tired  a  few  guns  and 
bore  away  for  Kingston,  the  citizens  greeting 
them  with  the  good  old  tune  of  *f  Yankee  Doo- 
dle,r  from  all  the  music  at  (he  post.  The  Bri- 
tish shipping  appeared  <o  be  much  injured.-— 
Ko(  a  man  lost  on  the  American  side. 

Tho  steadiness  of  the  American  troops  and  the 
alacrity  with  which  the  neighbouring  detach- 
m^ats  and  volunteers,  to  the  amount  of  nearly 
SOdO,  assembled  for  the  protection  of  this  im- 
portant post,  wasy  at  this  early  stage  of  ITie  war, 
a  pleasing  presage  of  what  might  be»  hereafter 
expected,  when  men  would  become  more  inured 
to  danger.  Col.  Bellinger  commanded  the  A- 
merican  troops.  Capt.  Woolsey,  who  command- 
ed the  Oneida,  having  sailed  from  the  harbour 
and  roconnoitered  the  enemy,  returned  and 
moored  his  vessel  with  a  spring  on  her  cable, 
near  tho  bat  tvry;  and  giving  the  command  of 
her  to  his  lieutenant,  he  went  ashore  and  took 
command  of  the  32  pounder,  ^  hieh,  under  his 
direction,  did  very  considerable  damage  to  tlie 
enemy. 


w 


H28TaRT  OF  URB  WAR. 


The  frigate  Essex*  captain  Porter^  saiied  ctt 
a  ocuisef  from  New- York,  on  the  3d  July,  and 
arriveci  in^he  Beleware,  the  7th  September* 
On  the  13th  Au^ist..  the  Essex  fell  in  with  the 
British  sloop  of  war  Alert.  The  Alert  boie 
down  ?nd  commenced  an  action*  which  lasted 
eight  minutes ;  she  ./as  much  cut  to  pieces,  had 
&even  feet  water  in  her  hold  when  «ho  struck^ 
and  three  men  woutided^  The  Essex  received 
iiG  fnjiuy.  " 

Captain  Porter  having  thrown  the  guns  of  the 
Alert  o^^'erboard,  despatched  her  as  a  cartel  t» 
St.  John's  ill  Newfoundland,  with  about  50d 
prisoners  which  ho  had  taken  in  the  Alert,  and 
ftom  other  captured  vesseli?. 

G6yernor  Provost,  of  Lower  Canada,  issued 
a  proclamation  on  the  19th  September,  by  whicU 
^l  citizens  of  the.  United  States  are  opdercj^  to 
quit  Canada  by  the  15th  of  October;  till  whicl^ 
time  they  inay  depart  with  their  moveable  pro- 
perty, by  permission  of  Ihree  of  the  council. 
jAfteP  that  time,  every  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  found  in  Canada,  will  be  treated  as  a 
prisoner  of  war^  unless  he  has.  taken  the  6ath 
tjf  aiiegfance. 

A  considerable  force  havir^g  been  assembled 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  NiH,s;ara  river,  un- 
iScr  the  command  of  major  general  Stephen  Van 
Benssalaer,  with  the  view,  as  was  gei^erally  un- 
derstood, of  effecting  a  descent  upon  the  British 
province  of  Upper  Canada ;  a  strong  ^nd  im- 
patient desire  was  discovered  among  the  troops 
to  try  their  strength  against  the  enemy.  This 
|»radually  rose  to  suah  a  height,  that  resistance 
to  it  seemed  scarcely^  if  at  all  i>ossible  ;  fiatri- 
otism  was  passing  the  limits  of  subordination* 
•<  Thlis  (says  the  general  in  his  official  coxanKt- 


HtSfOllt   OF  THE  WAS. 


tt 


fiication  t©  general  Dearborn)  was  expressed  to 
me  tttrough  various  ohanneU)  in  the  shape  of  .in 
altematwe;  that  they  mttst  have  onlers  to  oCt  ; 
or,  at  all  hazards,  they  would  go  home.** 

Impelled  by  this  consideration,  the  general 
m^de  d&positions  for  the  intended  attack  on  the 
British  post  at  the  heights  of  Qaeenstownl 
Some  information,  gained  from  a  person  who 
was  engaged  to  pass  orer  to  Canada,  and  who 
returned  safe,  seemed  t:o  warrant  an  attack^ 
which,  besides  the  immediate*ol)ject,  mightliave 
a  controlling  eifect  upon  the  movements  at  Oe> 
troit,  where  it  was  understood  the  British  gcne^ 
ral  Brock  had  gone,  with  all  the  force  he  could 
spare  from  the  Niagara  frontier. 

An  intention  to  trrtnsport  troops  across  the 
river,  on  the  morning  of  the  11th  October,  was 
frustrated  through  means  of  a  boatman,  scYcctcd 
for  his  skill  and  steadiness  ;  but  who,  going  a- 
head  in  the  extreme  darkness^  passed  the  in- 
tended place  far  up  the  river,  and  there  fastened 
his  boat  to  the  shoriv  and  abandoned  the  de- 
tachment. In  this  fi'ont  boat  nearly  every  oar 
belonging  to  all  the  boats  were  deposited.  The 
expedition  was  given  up,  and  the  detachment 
returned  to  camp. 

This  circumstance,  so  far  from  damping  the 
ardour  of  the  troops,  seemed  to  give  additional 
force  to  tlie  desire  of  encountering  the  enemy. 
A  second  attempt  was  determined  on. 

At  dawn  of  day,  on  the  13th  of  October,  the 
troops  commenced  enr^barking  imder  cfover  of  a 
battery.  The  movement  was  soon  discovered^ 
and  a  brisk  firing  of  musketry  commenced  oh 
the  ifyanada  side,  which  was  soon  followed  by  a 
eanhonade  on  the  boats,  the  Ameriran  cannon 
retorning  the  fire.    Col.  Van  KensselaSf ,  with 


B^ 


■#' 


HJSTOBY  o:e  the  mtab. 


c 


^00  men*  effected  a  landing,  and  cooly  advancech 
jn  the  face  of  a  tremendous  fire>  during  which» 
the  Colonel  reeeived  four  >vounds,  which  pre- 
Tented  that  useful  exertion  he  was  so  willing  to^ 
make.  Col.  Christie,  with  his  detachment^ 
landed  some  time  alter.  Col.  Van  Rensselaer^ 
althotv^h  searce  ahle  to  stand,  ordered  his  men 
to  storn:  the  fort,  which  service  was  gallantly 
performed-r-reinforciBments  ha>ing  arrived  to 
both  parties,  the  <!onfi.  .;■,  became  seves'e  arid 
general ;  the  enemy  soon  retreated,  and  the  rout 
was  followed  up  with  great  spirit,  by  the  Ame- 
ricans— Tictory  tsppeared  complete.  The  ene^ 
my,  at  this  mom<^nt,  received  a  reinforcement 
of  several  hundred  Indians  from  Chippawa,  and 
eemtnenced  a  furious  attack,  but  were  promptly 
met  and  routed  by  the  rifle  and  bayonet.  The 
general  observing  a  hesitation  in  th^  embarka- 
tion of  the  troops,  he  passed  over  to  accellerate 
their  movements.  Could  the  details  of  this  day 
be  here  closed^  all  would  be  honour,  all  would 
be  glory  to  the  American  character — But  it 
Biust  be  recorded;  alas!  it  cannot  be  con* 
cealed.  that  no  persuasion  of  the  General  could 
Influence  the  remaining  troops  to  pass  into  th» 
boats.  A  large  reinforcement  from  fort  George* 
foon  aCCerwards  was  seen  coming  up  the  river  y 
ilhis  reinforcement  obliqued  to  the  right  from 
^he  road,  and  formed  a  junction  with  the  In- 
dians in  the  rear  of  the  heights. 

The  boats  were  dispersed ;  the  boatman  had 
JiCd  panie  struek.  The  American  troops,  thus 
litaaited,  maintained  a  most  obstinate  conflict 
i^4iirif  an  hour;  when,  eithausted  of  strength, 
mnd  ammunition,  they  were  obliged  t»  stfrren- 
<ie;r.  General  Brock  was  slain,  and  his  aid-de- 
iMunp  mortally  wounded.    The  whole  number 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WASi 


dd 


of  Amerieans  engaged  waa  about  I6OO9  of  wbieh 
900  were  regulars  and  700  militia. — ^Tbe  militia 
were  liberated  as  prisoners  on  parole^  not  t» 
serve  during  the  war. 

Major  general  Van  Bensellaer  resigned  the 
command  of  tho  army  on  the  Niagara  frontier^ 
lo  brigadier  general  Smyth,  on  the  14th  October.' 

On  the  10th  November,  general  Smjth  pub- 
lished a  proclamation  from  his  camp  near  Buf- 
%loe.    As  this  document  beqame  the  subject  of 
muGJi  comment,  it  is  giveuuere  in  full.    It  was^ 
in  the  following  words: 


TO  THE  MEN*  OF  NBW-TORK. 

For  many  years  you  have  seen  yout  country  op* 
pressed  with  numerous  wrongs.  Your  government, 
although  above  all  others  devoted  to  peace,  have 
been  forced  to  draw  the  sword,  and  rely  for  redressk 
of  injuries  on  the  valour  of  the  American  people. 

That  valour  has  been  conspicuous.  But  the  na!'* 
Uon  has  been  unfortunate  in  the  selection  of  some 
of  those  who  directed  it.  One  army  has  been  <Ut» 
gracefully  surrendered  and  lost.  Another  has  been 
sacrificed  by  a  precipi|ate  attempt  to  pass  it  over  at 
the  strongest  point  of  the  enemy's  lines,  with  most 
incompetent  means.  The  cause  of  these  miscacr 
riages  is  apparent.  The  commanders  vi^ere  populait 
men,  **  destitute  alike  of  theory  and  experience*'  in 
the  art  of  war. 

In  a  few  days,  the  troops  under  my  comman'^  wilt 
plant  the  American  standard  in  Canada  '^"^Y  are 
•men  accustomed  to  obedience,  silence,  and  steadi<» 
Bcsf».     They  will  conquer,  or  they  WiH  dfe?^-'" 

\/ill  you  stand  «ith  your  aifM' folded  And  look 
on  this  interesting  struggle  I  Areyou-not  related 
to  the  men  who  fought  at  Bennington  and*  Saratoga-? 
Has  the  race  degenerated  }  O7  have  you.  under  the 
baneful  influence  of  contending  factions,  forgot  your 
toontry  f   Must  I  turn  from  yoU)  and  ask  men  of 


V 


m 


DISTORT  OF  TH^   ITAIC. 


the  stjc  nations  to  support  the  government  of  the 
United  States  ?  Shall  1  imitate  the  officers  of  ih^ 
British  king,  and  sufftr  our  ungathered  laurels  to 
be  tarnished  by  ruthU  ss  deeds  ?  Shame  where  is 
thy  blush  ?  No.  Where  I  command}  the  vanquish- 
ed and  the  peaceful  man,  the  child,  the  maid,  and 
the  matron,  shall  be  secure  from  wrong.  If  we 
conqufT,  we  will  "  conquer  but  to  save."  '^^ 

JMen  of  JSTew'York ! 

The  present  is  the  hour  of  renown.  Have  you. 
not  a  wish  for  fame  ?  Would  you  not  choose  in  fu- 
ture times  to  be  named  as  one  of  thoacj  who,  imitat- 
ing the  heroes  whom  Montgomery  led,  have  in  spite 
of  the  seasons,  visited  the  tomb  of  the  chief,  and 
conquered  the  country  where  holies?  Yes.  You 
dei^i^e  your  share  of  iame.  Then  seize  the  present 
moment.  If  you  do  not,  you  will  regret  it ;  and  say, 
<*  the  valiant  have  bled  in  vain  ;  the  friends  of  my 
country  fell— and  1  was  not  there.** 

Advance  then  to  our  aid.  1  will  wait  for  you  a 
few  days.  I  cannot  give  you  the  day  of  my  de- 
parture. But  come  on.  Come  in  companies,  half 
sofhpanies,  pairs,  or  singly.  I  will  organize  you 
for  a  short  tour.  Ride  to  this  place,  if  the  distance 
is  far,  and  send  back  your  horses.  But  remember, 
ihat^very  man  who  accompanies  us,  places  himself 
under  my  command,  and  shall  submit  to  the  salutary 
restraints  of  discipline. 

ALEX.  SMYTHt 
.  Brig.  General. 
Camfii  near  BuJfaloe^JVov.  10,  1812. 

^  This  proelamation  had  the  effect  of  bringing 
^  the  froniiep  a  very  considerable  number  of 
>^^4i}uiiteer8»  men  who  lived  the  hardy  life  of 
Jwrmers,  were  accustomed  to  tlie  woods,  kheW 
^mt^W  the  use  of  the  rifle,  and  feikred  Indians  as 
little  as  f  bey  did  Enf^Hshmen. 

On  the  17th  November,  general  Smyth  is- 


HI5T0BT  OF  TUB  VtAJh 


V 


sued  a  public  address  to  his  soldieps^  prepai% 
iovy  to  an  immediately  intended  entrance  into 
the  enemy's  territory.  The  sentiments  con- 
tained in  this  address  are  noble,  humane,  and 
soldierly.  From  such  a  general  and  such  an 
army,  the  public  expected  a  very  successful 
campaign. 

Their  hopes  were  not  to  bo  realized.  Twice 
the  troops  embarked  and  as  often  disembarked* 
Public  opinion,  hitherto  on  the  side  of  general 
Smyth,  now  began  to  veer.  His  courage,  as 
well  as  his  patriotism,  was  questioned ;  censure 
was  followed  by  insult  and  menace.  The  pro- 
ject of  invasion  was  finally  abandoned.  The 
Yolunteers  were  dismissed,  and  the  army  order- 
ed  into  winter  quarters.  Thus  ended  the  ope- 
cations,  for  this  seasoii,  of  the  army  of  the. center  4 

Gen.  Smyth  justified  himself  on  the  groundar 
that  he  had  direetions  not  to  pass  over  with  ftess 
than  3000  men  ;  that  he  could  not  prevail  on 
more  than  1500  men  to  embark ;  and  that  aft 
ar  tack  on  the  enemy,  under  such  eirenmstances^ 
was  contrary  to  the  opinion  of  a  council  of  his 
O0cers.  «  My  orde^  (says  the  geners^  iii(  re- 
ply to  a  committee  from  the  patriotlo  citizens 
of  the  wefiern  counties  of  New-York)  were  to 
p:iss  into  Canada  with  SOOO  men  at  once.  On 
the  first  day  of  embarkation  not  more  than  1400 
men  were  embarked,  of  whom  400,  that  is,  half 
of  the  regular  infantry,  were  exhausted  with  fa- 
tigue and  want  of  rest.  On  the  second  embark- 
ation, only  1500  men  were  embai^ed>^nd  these 
were  to^have  put  off  immediately;  and  to  have 
descended  the  river  to  a  point  where  reittfereof 
meats  were  not  to  be  expected.  On  both  days, 
many  of  the  regular  troops  were  mctt  in  bail 
healthy  who  eould  aot  have  stood  one  day's 


5S 


HISTORY  Of  THE   >VAR« 


march ;  yiho,  aUht)ugh  they  were  on  the  sick  re- 
port,  \yere  turned  out  by  their  ardent  officers." 

This  reply  was  dated  3d  December.  On  the 
8th  of  the  same  month,  general  Peter  B.  Porter 
gave  notice  in  the  Duffaloe  Gazette,  that  he 
vrould  soon  publish  a  «  true  aceount  of  some  of 
'the  most  prominent  transactions  of  those  days.'' 
In  this  notice  general  Porter  ascribes  the  fail;- 
ure  of  the  expedition  to  the  cowardice  of  gcna« 
ral  Smyth.      >  .       <i-:^  - 

\  General  Smyth  must  remain  convicted,  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world,  of  falsehood  and  cowardice^ 
if  he  continued  passive '  under  such  charges--- 
Modern  chivalry  pointed  out  the  course  which. 
VkWti  ue  pursued.  General  Smyth  sent  a  chal- 
Icnge  to  general  Porter^  \vhich  the  latter  ac- 
cepted. 

The  parties  passed  over  to  Grand  Island,  on 
the  13th  December ;  a  shot  was  exchanged,  in 
an  intrepid  manner,  but  without  effect,  when,  on 
the  suggestien  of  general  Smyth's  second,  a  mu- 
tual explanation  and  reconciliation  took  place  ; 
and  the  parties  separated. 

Geniai^l  Porter,  on  the  following  day,  deliv- 
ered ^  promised  statement  of  transactions,  to 
the  editor  of  the  Buffaloe  Gazette,  In^^vhkh  pa- 
per it  accordingly  appeared. 

The  statement  is  plain  and  satisfactory  ;  and 
divested  of  tbat  asperity,  which  was  probably 
intended  to  accompany  it. 

In  this  statement,  it  is  represented,  that,  on 
^the  37th  November,  there  :were  collected  lift  the 
ne^hbourhood  of  Niagara,  4500  efTectivc  men, 
that  the  vessels  collected  for  the  purpose,  were 
«irfficient  for  the  transportation ^of  3550  men  ; 
that  the  number  of^'men  actually  embarked 
^ere  esU<nated  to  consist  of  between  3000  and 


kN\ 


ft.  ■>. 


HISTOAY  <»F  THE   WAH; 


59 


2600  ;  tliat  about  2000  more  men  were  paraded 
on  shore,  seemingly  readj'  to  cross ;  that  several 
boats,  of  suffieieni  capacity  to  carry  about  4000 
men,  were  still  lying  unoccupied,;  and  that  the 
enemy,  estimated  at  about  500  men^  were  drawfi 
up  in  aJine,  at  about  half  a  mile  from  the  river. 

As  a  proof  of  what  could  be  effected,  had  the 
men  been  permitted  to  pass  over,  general  Por- 
ter states  the  bravery  and  success  with  which 
a  detachment  which  crossed  over  by  direction 
of  general  Smyth*  accomplished  its  mission  ; 
having  completely  routed  the  enemy*  spiked  hia 
cannon,  and  taken  several  prisoners.  «  Out  of 
12  naval  officers,  who  embarked  in  this  enter- 
prize,  nine  of  them,  (says  general  Porter)  with 
more  than  half  their  men*  were  killed  or 
wounded." 

General  Smyth,  in  a  letter  to  the  editors  of 
tb^  National  Intelligencer,  dated  2Sth  January* 
1813,  refutes  the  statement  of  general  Porter. 
•<  I  affirm  (says  general  Smyth)  th^t  on  the  27th 
November,  there  were  collected  In  Ihe  neigh- 
bourhood of  Black  Rock,  not  more  than  5500 
effective  men,  non-commissioned  officers,  and 
privates,  of  every  corps  under  my  command  f 
not  more  than  1500  of  those  were  liable  to  bo 
ordered :  to  cross  the  Niagara,  according  to 
opinions  generally  received.  On  the  21st*  there 
were  1050  good  troops  embarked*  and  also  as 
many  irregular  volunteers  as  occupied  five 
boats*  estimated  at  150.  On  the  morning  of  tho- 
lirst  December,  the  number  of  men  armed  with 
muskets,  who  were  at  thQ  navy-yard*-embarked 
or  not  embarked,  did  not  exceed  2000  men." 

In  this  refutation,  general  Smyth  insinuates 
that  general  Porter,  acting  as  contractor  to  the' 
ai:in|>^as  not  pirepared  to  supply  the  n<;ce93ai7 


# 


6v 


mSTOIlT  Qt  TUB  'WAK. 


rationst  having  on  the  SOth  Novombor  onlv  dS 
barrels  of  flour  on  hn^:!,  *'  hot  two  pounUB  of 
flour  to  each  man/' — «•  The  hostility  of  general 
Porter  to  myself  (sa;^s  general  Smyth)  grow  out 
of  the  contract  J** 

While  tho  expeditions  thus  progressed  (Vom 
^.ll-design  to  its  unavoidable  consequenee,  un- 
fiOoeessful  termination*  the  minor  e:?rpeditions 
did  honour  to  tlie  offioers  who  commanded  and 
tlie  few  men  who  we»^3  rngugod  in  tlieni.  A-^ 
mong  theso  the  following  must  not  bo  omilicd : 

The  brigs  Adams  and  Cnlodonia*  M'hioh  were 
surrendered  to  thci  enemy  by  general  Hull,  at 
Detroit,  having  arrived  and  anehor  d  on^ler  the 
British  fort  iilrie,  captain  Elliot  determined  ou 
ftn  attempt  to  regain  them.  Having  made  tho 
necessary  dispositions,  ho  advancied  at  1  o'clock 
in  the  morning  of  tho  9th  ijctober,  having  under 
his  eomniand  100  men  in  two  boats ;  at  3  o'clock 
he  was  alotig  side  the  vessels ;  in  10  minutes 
thr^y  were  under  way,  and  tiie  prisoners  sccut*ed. 
An  unfavorable  wind  obliged  them  to  run  down 
the  river,  by  the  forts,  under  a  heavy  ilrc  of 
round,  grape,  and  oannister  shot,  from  a  number 
of  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  and  flying  artillery; 
find  he  was  compelled  t^  anchor  about  400  y^ird^ 
from  ono  of  their  batteries  ;  the  Caledonia  be- 
ing got  into  a  safe  position,  a  flro  was  returned 
from  tho  guns  of  the  Adams  as  long  as  ammu- 
nition lasted.  It  being  found  ip^possiblc  longer 
to  withstand  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  whioh  would 
l^bably  sink  tho  vessel  in  a  short  time,  he\wa& 
4ftmpe!led  to  cut  the  cable  and  drill  down'^tho 
vTlverout  of  rea<^h  «»f  the  batttpief  >  but  remained! 
fttill  exposed  to  the  flying  ariillery  ;  having? 
IhMS  dropped  ast(;rn  for  about  10  minutes,  a:»di 
being  deserted  by  tho  pUoti  he  was  broiught  u|^ 


UttTtftT   •!  mil  \rAB* 


•I 


€h  iho  shore  of  Squaw  Inland.  From  tlilspliiee 
he  lent  the  urisonors  on  shore  with  much  difll<* 
oult^  I  ami,  having  himself  passed  from  the  brig 
to  the  shore,  he  soon  disoovorod  that  about  40 
soldiers  had  crossed  in  a  boat  fh>m  the  British 
side,  and  boat*ded  the  brig ;  but  they  were  soon 
compelled  to  abandon  her  with  the  loss  of  nearly 
all  their  men.  During  the  whole  of  the  morn- 
ing, both  sides  of  the  river  kept  up  alternately 
a  continual  fire  on  the  brig,  and  so  mMch  in- 
jured her  that  it  was  Impossible  to  have  jQoated 
her  -she  was  of  course  detttroyod. 

M^vjor  Young  having  command  of  the  Troy 
militia  at  French  mills,  on  the  St.  Ucgis  river^ 
proceeded  to  the  vlllRce  of  St.  Regis*  whore  tho 
enemy  had  landed  with  a  view  to  osti^blitth  him- 
self in  force,  and  vigorously  attacked  him  at  5 
o*clock  on  the  morning  of  Util  October ;  one 
4tand  of  colours,  forty  prisoners,  with  their 
arms,  equipments,  &c.  were  (he  fruits  of  this 
spirited  and  well  conducted  exficdiiion.  IMiis 
was  the  first  standard  taken  from  the  enemy» 
in  (ho  present  war.  The  parly  returned  sa' j  to 
their  camp  without  having  a  man  hurt.  Tho 
€nemy  lost  4  killed,  and  one  mortally  wounded. 

The  movements  of  tho  enemy,  during  (heso 
iimcs,  were  not  to  thorn  equally  honourable  or 
important. 

An  Hituik  of  it;e  enemy  on  tho  village  of  Og- 
densburg  was  defeated.  Tho  enemy  had  1000 
men,  the  Amcvicans  only  400.  This  happened 
on  the  2d  Oeiobor^ 

On  the  3d  October,  the  Britisli  brig  fioya! 
George  went  into  the  Genessee  river,  and  cut 
out  the  schooner  Lady  Murray  and  a  revenue 
outter.  Thcrj  was  no  force  then  thcrci  that 
could  resist  the  enemy. 


M 


BIST0SY  or  THB  VAIl. 


The  national  pride  had  been  already  highly 
gratified  by  success  on  the  ocean ;  the  public 
eye  was  anxiously  directed  to  that  element,  in 
•xpectation  of  further  glory.  The  public  bope 
was  not  to  be  disappointed. 

At  day-lighty  on  the  I8th  October,  about  the 
lat.  of  S7  deg.  north,  and  Ion.  6ddeg.  vrest,  cap- 
tain Jacob  Jones,  commanding  the  United 
States*  sloop  of  war  Wasp,  of  18  guns,  got 
sight  of  a  British  convoy  of  six  large  armed 
merchant  ships  under  protection  of  the  British 
sloop  of  war  Frolic,  commanded  by  capt.  Whin- 
yeates.  A  signal  was  made  by  the  Frolic  for 
the  fleet  to  disperse.  At  30  minutes  past  eleven 
A.  M.  an  engagement  commenced  between  the 
two  sloops,  at  a  short  distance,  and  continued 
until  the  vessels  were  so  close  that  the  rammers 
of  the  Wasp  were,  while  loading  the  last  broad- 
side, shoved  against  the  side  of  the  enemy.  I'he 
Frolic  was  boarded  on  her  forecastle,  and  im- 
mediately surrendered.  The  manner  in  which 
this  engagement  was  maintained  was  highly 
honourable  to  the  Americans.  The  Frolic 
mounted  2-i  guns ;  sixteen  of  them  33  pound 
carronades,  and  four  ISs  pounders  on  the  main 
deck,  and  two  twelve  pounders,  carronades,  on 
the  top-galiant  forecastle,  making  her  superior 
in  foree  to  the  Wasp,  by  four  12  pounders.  On 
board  the  Wasp,  there  were  ilve  killed,  and 
five  wounded.  The  exact  loss  of  the  enemy 
could  not  be  ascertained,  as  many  of  the  dead 
lay  buried  under  the  masts  and  spars  that  had 
fallen  upon  the  deck,  which  two  hours  exertion 
liad  not  sufficiently  removed.  Lieiit.  Biddle, 
irho  had  charge  of  the  Frolic,  states,  from  what 
lie  saw,  and  from  information  fW>m  the  officers, 
the  number  of  killed  muit  have  been  thirty; 
that  of  ^e  wounded^  about  forty  or  fifty. 


BISTOBT  OV  THB  WAB. 


63 


The  Wasp  suffered  so  much  in  (his  aoiUii« 
that  both  masts  fell  on  the  deck  a  lew  minutes 
after  separating  from  the  Frolie ;  every  brace 
and  moat  of  the  rigging  had  been  shot  amraj 
during  the  action. 

In  this  state,  she  nearly  remained^  ivhcn,  in 
two  hours  after  the  action,  the  British  ship 
Foictiers,  of  74  guns,  hove  in  sight;  and,  sobu 
after  tonk  possession  of  the  two  sloops,  and  or- 
dcrod  them  for  norniuda.  -{^ 

The  captain  of  the  Frolic,  in  bit  official  let* 
ler  to  admird  Warren^  states  that  every  officer 
nvas  wounded,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  men 
either  killed  or  wounded ;  there  not  being  twenty 
persons  remaining  unhurt. 

The  following  resolution  of  the  Common 
Council  of  New-York,  will  show  the  high  light 
in  which  they  held  captain  Jones  and  his  crew  : 

Resolvedf  That  an  elegant  Sword  be  preaent- 
«d  to  Captain  Jones,  late  of  the  United  States* 
sloop  of  war  Wasp,  and  also  the  freedom  of  this 
eity,  as  a  testimony  of  the.  high  opinion  this 
Corporation  entertain  of  his  gallant  conduct  in 
capturing  the  British  sloop  of  war  Frolic ;  and 
that  the  thanks  of  the  Common  Council  be  pre- 
sented to  his  brave  officers  and  crew. 

The  United  States*  frigate  United  States* 
captain  Stephen  Decatur,  being  on  a  cruise,  fell 
in,  on  the  25th  October,  1812.  with  his  Britan* 
nic  Majesty's  frigate  Macedonian,  captain  J. 
S.  Garden,  in  lat.  29  N.  Ion.  29  30  W.  and,  after 
nn  action  of  an  hour  an  a  half  ^7  minutes  of 
which  was  in  close  action)  the  British  frigate 
was  captured.  /Fhe  Macedonian  was  of  tin* 
largest  class  of  British  frigates,  two  years  old, 
but  four  months  out  of  dock,  and  mounting  49 
gijns>  (the  odd  one  shifting.)    Thie  CDgagemcnt 


t!4 


hibtout  oy  ths  way. 


gate  another  Indisputable  proof  of  tlio  superi- 
ority of  Anieriean  discipline  and  gunnery. 
f    The  loss  on  both  sides  was  as  f(»Ilow8  : 

On  board  the  United  States,  2  seameuy  3  ma- 
rinesy  1  boy — Total  killed,  5. 

'Wounded,  1  lieutenant*  1  carpenter,  4  seamen, 
1  marine — Total  wounded,  7  f  of  whom  lieut 
Funk  and  John  Archibald  died  of  their  wounds. 
•  On  board  the  Macedonian,  there  were  36  kil- 
led, and  68  wounded ;  36  of  whom  severely. 

By  the  muster  roll  of  the  Macedonian,  it  ap- 
peared that  there  were  seven  impi*essed  Ame- 
ricans on  board,  during;  the  action^  two  of  whom 
were  killed. 

The  United  States  and  Macedonian  arrived 
offMontaug  Point  on  the  4th  December;  but 
were  prevented  ftom  reaching  New- York  be^ 
fore  the  first  day  of  the  new  year,  1813. 

On  the  an  ival  of  captain  Hull,  at  New-York, 
he  was  presented  by  the  eorporation  of  the  city, 
with  the  freedom  of  the  city,  in  a  gold  box.  ^0 
soon  as  captain  Hull  entered  this  conneil  ohaip^^ 
ber,  conducted  by  aldermen  Fish  mil  Me(uer, 
and  genera]  Mortem,  he  was  addressed  bx.HI^ 
honour  De  AViit  Clinton,  ma^or  of  the  city,  in 
an  appropriate  ^eoh.  CjEipl9ln  Hall,  with  all 
that  modesty  so  frequently  alfied  to  virtuous 
bravery,  made  a  sltort  but  very  betioming  reply. 
T||e  Captain  then  took  the  freeman's  oath,  and 
retired,  amidst  an  immense  crowd,  who  filled  tho 
air  with  reiterated  huzzas.  On  the  following 
day*  a  splendid  naval  dinner  was  given  by  the 
/^^oration  to  captain  Hull,  com.  Beeatur, 
n^id  jcaptaiu  Jones,  in  toslimony  of  the  high 
sense  entertained  oCihe  merits  of  these  ^entle-^ 
liieq,.  NoUiing  was  omitted  to  render  this  din- 
ner truly  descriptive  of  the  oaQasi<^>  and  ih« 
ioelings  of  the  eitiaens;.  . 


uisToar  OB  tub  trAR. 


(Si 


On  tlic  otli  Jan.  another  dinner  vias  giVctt 
hy  the  corpomtion,  to  the  crew  of  the  United 
States.  The  seamen  and  marines,  havinff  form- 
ed in  process  ioot  proceeded  fl*om  the  jMaoe  of 
landing  to  the  City  iJote!,  amidst  the  plauditir 
of  thousands  of  citizens.  On  the  arrival  of  th« 
sailors,  and  they  heing  seated,  they  wore  ad- 
dressed by  Mr.  Vanderbilt,  with  his  usual  en- 
ergy and  perspicuity.  The  boatswain  made  a 
short  reply,  expressive  of  the  gratitude  of  his 
shipmates,  and  their  wish  for  a  further  oppor- 
tunity to  prove  their  devotedness  to  their  coun- 
try. At  6  o*e]ook,  the  procession  was  re-form- 
ed, when  they  proceeded  to  the  theatre,  at  th& 
express  wish  and  invitation  of  the  manag^ers,  who 
reserved  the  pit  exclusively  for  their  accommo- 
dation. The  harmony  of  the  day  was  not  inter- 
rupted by  a  single  irregularity. 

The  onemyhad  some  consolation,  (if  consola- 
tion it  can  lie  called)  by  the  (capture,  in  Novem- 
ber, of  the  United  States'  brig  of  war  Vixen,  of 
14  guns,  by  his  majesty's  frigate  Southampton^ 
of  d^  guns. 

On  this  occasion,  the  intrepid  exertions  of  our 
tars,  aided  by  their  officers,  were  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  saving  the  movable  property  on  boai'd 
the  frigate.  So  sensible  was  Sir  James  \eo  of 
the  generous  conduct  of  the  Amcrit^n  sailors, 
that  ho  drew  them  up  on  the  island,  and  pub- 
licly thanlicd  them  in  the  warmest  terms. 

Although  a  patriotic  support  of  Ih^  war  was 
the  distinguishing  feature  of  the  publio  senti- 
)nrient,yet  there  was  a  strange  apathy  too  firera- 
lent,  %hieh  tended  not  alittte  toi  oi^er  ittvai^ 
stage  unpropitious  to  the  country.  Sxniielhirtg' 
was  necessary  to  awaken  the  uorousied  loyslfty 
of  the  people.    Tictory  might  have  that  effbet  | 


6$ 


ItrSTORT  or  T1I«  WlHr 


lierTiitps  defeat  vas  a  more  powel^ul  agent.  TIi# 
aefeat  and  surrender  of  gen^  Hull  so  mueh  dis^ 
appointed  ike  oxpcetations  exeiltd  bjr  the  ffene- 
ral's  proohmation,  that  it  f s  impossible  to  depiet 
the  first  effbot.  The  moririleation  of  disappoint' 
vieniL%  added  t»  tlie  serious  less  of  a  fine  army^ 
iF*rew  a  tomporavy  gloom  over  the  eitisens.-— 
This  soon  gave  way  to  res^^ntment  and  a  deter- 
Hiiiialion  to  wipe  off  the  **  foul  stainr"  Tbo 
spirit  of  the  nation  rose,  and  that  of '76  seemed 
to  retarm  This  sentimenty  i/hieh  pervaded  a 
ffreat  proportion  of  the  nation,  wap.  most  power- 
ful in  the  western  eountry.  Aii  f  7lt  the  neees- 
»ity  of  immefliate  action  ;  Kentucky  and  Ohia 
nay  be  said  to  have  broken  loose  ;  an  arm 3^ 
vat  ready,  as  if  by  magie,  prepared  to  avenge 
the  laie  disgraee.  A  leader  was  wanting*— all 
•yes  lookco,  with  a  common  impolser  towards- 
the  hero  of  Tippacanoe ;  the  united  voiejs  of  the 
peoiple  ealled  on  the  governor  to  dispense  with^ 
all  A»rBiafitie» ;  and  William  Hekbt  Haari- 
SON  was  appointed  a  m«y*op* general,  with  diree* 
tiotts  to  take  ecmmand  of  the  not* th  western  ar- 
any.  This  appointment  was  confirmed  by  the 
Bfesident  of  the  'JfiUed  States. 

The  exposed  id.uation  of  tiie  north  western 
fhmtier,  aher  the  surrender  of  Hul),  required 
Ihe  utmost  exerttooQ  for  its  protection.  It  was 
not  possible  entirely  to  avert  the  Impending 
danger. 

^%       The  Im!ianft  had  already  eommenced  their 
v^i^^ago  >;arfai*e  by  an  attack  on  Fort  Deaf|>orn 

A^'^.^tfbd  the  massacre  of  its  garrison.    Fort  Il(3ar* 

*:1mm  (Chicago)  was  but  a  weak  garrison^  con- 

^stiBg  of  about  50  men,  tl^lhe  were  also  in  It  a 

f»w  women  and  cliildren.    A  large  bady  Of  In* 

kftving  mciiaoe'^  tiio  f«H»  it  was  agreed  la 


msTotiT  ov  TUB  ytku. 


67> 


a  council  which  was  held  with  the  faithless 
tribes,  that  the  garrison  should  be  spared,  oa 
condition  of  surrendering  the  place  vtithout  re* 
sistance.  They  marched  out  on  the  ±Hh 
Sept. ;  and,  when  about  a  mile  from  the  furt» 
were  fired  on,  and  murdered^  with  the  exeep-* 
tion  of  about  10  or  12,  who  eseaped. 

Fort  Belview  (Madison)  on  the  Mississippi^ 
was  attacked  on  the  4th  September,  hy  the  In- 
dians, with  all  the  desperation  that  a  want  of 
I'cal  courage,  could  inspire  ;  the  attack  was  re- 
newed daily  until  the  8th,  when  the  Indians,  af- 
ter suffering  very  severely,  withdrew,  leaving 
the  brave  garri!Bon  safe.  One  soldier,  who  wa» 
out  of  the  fort,  when  the  attack  commenced^ 
was  massacred  :  no  lives  were  lost  in  (he  fort  f 
and  only  one  man  wounded. 

About  11  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  4 th-^ 
September,  Fort  Harrison  in  the  Indiana  terri- 
tory, was  attacked  by  a  vast  number  of  Indians. 
The  garrison  was  weak,  and  the  most  of  then^ 
including  its  intrepid  commander, eapt.  Z.Tay- 
lor, either  sick  or  convalescent.  The  attack 
was  continued,  in  a  most  furious  manner^  until 
about  sun-rise  the  following  morning*  when  the 
savages  retired,  drivine  away  or  shooting  alf 
the  cattle  they  could  finu. 

Several  expeditions  were  formed  against  the 
Indians,  for  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  keeping  open  the  necessary  communieation?^ 
Colonel  Russell,  with  a  small  4etac^  meat  of 
the  United  States' rangers,  proceeded  to  the 
head  of  the  Peori  lake,  where  hedestroyod  the 
eelebrated  Pimertain's  town.  General  Hopkins, 
with  about  1200  troops^  left  Fort  Harrisoo  «ii 
the  11th  December,  and  succeeded  in  destroying 
se?eral  villages alotig  tlie  Wabash:  apart^  of 


■■.'^ ' 


^ 


IIIIiTOSY   OF  THE   WAS. 


.:   (<■■ 


•.  i<i 


'V 


62  that  left  the  camp,  in  sear6li  of  a  man  \fh» 
^vas  missing,  fell  in  ^vith  a  large  force  of  horse 
nnd  foot  Inctians  :  this  partj^  suffei^d  a  defeat 
with  a  loss  of  16,  making,  with  the  missing^ 
man,  1^.  General  Tnpper,  defeated  a  nume- 
rous body  of  British  and  Indians,  near  the  Ba- 
pids  of  the  Miami :  tho  difllicultj  of  crossing 
the  riyer  and  want  of  provisions  obliged  the  ex- 
pedition to  return,  havuig  lost  4  killed  ;  and  i 
being  wounded.  Col.  Campbell  with  600  men» 
attacked  one  of  the  Massasinewa  towns,  on  the 
17th  and  18th  December,  and  defeated  the  In- 
dians after  a  most  desperate  conflict:  the 
American  loss  was  8  killed  and  23  wounded, 
the  Indian  town  was  burned.  Colonel  John  B. 
Campbell,  on  the  17th  November,  attacked  tho 
savages  at  a  town  on  the  Massissinewa,  which 
he  burned,  as  well  as  three  other  t(iwns  furtler 
down  the  river,  killing  several,  and  taking  37 
prisoners  :  on  the  moruitig  of  the  11th  Dec.  his 
eamp  was  attacked  hy  about  300  Indians,  wha 
were  defeated,  after  an  engagement  of  about 
three  quarters  of  an  hour.  The  loss  of  t\m 
Americans  in  these  affairs  was  9  killed  and  about 
35  or  40  wounded  ;  about  40  of  the  Indians 
were  killed*  The  Indians  also  suffered  a  defeat 
from  colonel  Williams,  commanding  the  Ten- 
nessee troops. 

These  actions  were  well  calculated  to  inspire 
the  Indians  with  a  proper  respect  for  ?he  Ame- 
ricans ;  and,  if  followed  up  with  continued  sue- 
'  ees9,  would  tend  to  estrange  the  savage  enemy 
'Atom  his  British  ally  ;  but  a  sad  reverse  soott 
occurred. 

A  detachment  under  the  command  of  §;eneral 
'Winehester,  being  attacked  on  the  2^  January^^ 
atFrenchtown^  on  the  river  Raisin^  bj  a  great- 


lilStORT  OF  THE   WAB; 


es 


}y  supCiior  foi^ce  of  Indians  and  Brithh^  al(|ed 
by  several  pieces  of  artillerj',  suffere^ja  defeat; 
The  Americans  lost  no  honor  on  this  occasion^ . 
they  defended  themselves  and  fought  i^ith  des- 
peration,  even  beyond  the  time  when  prudence 
and  honor  -would  have  sanctioned  a  surrender* 
General  Winehestery  being  himself  a  prisoiierl^^ 
agreed  to  a  surrender  of  the  troops  uiider  his 
command^  on  condition  that  they  shMd  be  pro- 
tected against  the  savages,  and  allowed  to  re- 
tain their  private  property,  and  side-arms.— 
Thirty -five  officers  and  490  non-commissioned 
officers  fdud  privates  were  made  prisoners,  the 
number  of  killed  was  considerable. 

The  prisoners,  who  were  in  health,  were 
inarched  to  Maiden  ;  the  wounded  were,  con-^ 
trary  to  the  terms  of  capitulation,  left  at  th« 
mercy  of  the  Indians.  On  the  morning  of  the 
issd,  such  of  the  wounded  as  were  unable  to  tra- 
vel, wer )  tomahawked  and  scalped. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  report  of  a 
tommittee  of  congress,  on  this  subject. 

**  The  massacre  of  the  25d  January,  afteF 
the  capitulation,  was  perpetrated  without  any 
exertion  on  their  part,  to  prevent  it ;  indeed,  it 
is  apparent,  from  all  the  circumstances,  that  if 
the  British  officers  did  not  connive  at  their  de- 
stru,ctlon,  they  were  criminally  indifferent  about 
the  fate  of  the  wounded  prisoners.  But  what 
marks  more  strongly  |fte  degradation  of  the 
character  of  the  British  soldiers,  Is'lltft  refusal 
of  the  last  offices  of  humanity  to  the  bodies  of 
the  dead.  The  bodies  of  our  country  men  were 
exposed  to  every  indignity,  and  becam^foodfbr 
brutes,  in  the  sight  of  men  who  affeet  a  sacred- 
regard  to  <he  dictates  of  honor  and  r([;ligion . 

%ififf  indeed  is  the  eharacter  of  that  an^y  wIhoK 


^a 


HIBT9BT  OF  THX  WAR. 


11  reduoed  to  the  confession » that  their  sarngl^ 
auxiliaries  will  not  permit  them  to  perform  the 
rites  of  sepulture  to  (he  slain.  The  committee 
have  not  been  able  to  discover  even  the  cxpres- 
siun  of  detestation*  which  such  eonduct  must 
inspire*  from  the  militar^y  or  civil  aulhorit}'  on 
the  Canadian  frontier*  unless  such  detestation 
II  to  be  presumed  fVom  the  choice  of  an  Indian 
trophy  as  an  ornament  fbr  the  Legislative  Hall 
of  Upper  Canada.'^ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  who  survived  tht 
battle  of  Frenohtown,  held  at  Erie,  (Pa.)  the 
SOtli  February,  ISIS*  the  following  statement 
and  resolutions  were  agreed  to. 

Whereas  it  is  deemed  necessary  that  our  fellow 
eiUJBfins  should  be  informed  of  the  late  perfidiout 
and  brutal  acts  of  the  Biidsh  government  perform- 
ed by  their  o£fieers  at  the  battle  of  Frenchtown, 

Retohied^  That  the  following  suitement  of  the 
conduct  of  the  British  ofiicers,  be  published  to  our 
oountrymen: 

"iThat  when  general  Winchester  was  talcen  pri- 
soner on  the  23d  Junuary,  1313,  and  brous;ht  bejfora 
colonel  Proctor,  the  British  commander,  he  directed 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  Americans  (majot 
Madison)  to  surrender.  Major  Madison  reftised  so 
to  do,  O'less  those  who  surrendered  should  be  freo 
from  ^vage  massacre  ;  this  was  agrv^ed  to ;  and  the 
British  officers  pledged  themselves  to  have  a  suffi- 
cient force  with  the  wounded  to  protect  them,'  and 
that  they  should  be  conveyed  to  Maiden  the  next 
jnorning.  They  likewise  promised  to  return  to  the 
«^l  jAcer&  their  arms  at  Maiden.  ^ 
*  *.*Capt.  N.  G.  F.  Hart,  inspector  to  the  north-west- 
::#fn  army,  being  among  the  woundfd,  it  was  pro- 
posed by  his  friends,  that  they  should  carry  him 
With  them — this  they  were  prevented  from  doing  by 
•apt.  Elliot,  a  British  officer,  and  an  old  acquaintance 
•f  eaptsdn  plan's,  wiio  promts td  oapt.  H.  his  speckl 


UIBTORY  OV  <rU£  WAXV 


71 


DtotfCtion-- to  convey  him  in  his  own  sleigh  to 
Mulde*^  that  evening,  unci  informing  him  that  he 
should  be  welcome  to  remain  at  his  hou'se  there, 
until  he  should  recover. 

These  were  the  firomiaea  of  the  British— Let  o«ft 
country  men  and  the  world  see  how  they  were  fulr 
illcd. 

At  the  break  of  day  next  morning,  the  savage« 
were  suffered  to  commit  ev.ery  dc/iredation  ufion  our 
y»ounded  which  they  pleased,  jin  indiscriminate 
slaughter  took  filace  of  all  who  were  unable  to  waik-^ 
many  were  tomahawked  and  many  were  burned  alive 
in  the  hsuses.  Among  the  unfortunate  thus  mur- 
dered, it  is  with  regret  and  sorrow  we  have  to  name 
captains  Hart  and  llickro«%n. 

The  arms  of  the  officers  as  promised,  were  never 
returned.  Every  species  of  private  property  re- 
maining in  the  tents,  belonging  to  both  officers  and 
soldiers,  were  plundered  by  the  savages. 

Besolved,  That  in  consideration  of  the  high  re- 
spect we  hold  to  the  memories  of  both  officers  and 
soldiers  who  were  thus  cruelly  murdered,  by  per- 
mission of  the  British  Commander  Proctor,  and  Mi 
Sttbalterns,  and  those  who  gloriously  fell  in  the  Jield, 
lie/ending  the  only  free  government  on  earth,  that 
each  of  us  wear  ^lack-  crape  on  our  hats  and  left 
arm  for  the  space  bi  ninety  days. 

Resolved,  That  a  similar^  procedure,  tcstifyinr 
their  respect  for  those  who  were  murdered  and  fell 
on  that  day,  be  recommended  to  our  brother  officer]i 
and  soldiers  who  survived  it. 

SAMUEL  WILLIAMS,  President. 
John    Becklxt,  Secretary. 

The  little  progress,  hithtrtoniiide  by  Icmd, 
«g^inst  the  enemy,  had  determined  the  oengress 
and  general  government  on  adopting  a  more  cf* 
fieient  plan  of  warfare.  Several  new  appoint- 
ments of  officers  Were  made  ^  and  commodore 
Chauncey  iras  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
lake  navy. 


T» 


JilI8T0RT  OF  THE   WAB» 


The  Commodore  sailed  from  Sackett*s  Har- 
|K>r  ouLaki}  Ontario,  on  the  8th  Nov.  fell  in 
with  and  efaased  the  Ro^al  Georgv^  until  he  lost 
sight  of  her  in  the  night  ;  on  the  following  day 
renewed  th(3  chase,  and  followed  her  into  Kings- 
ton harbor,  where  he  engaged  her  and  the  bat- 
teries, for  nearly  two  hours-^at  sun  down  he 
hauled  off,  heing  obliged,  by  badness  of  the 
weather^  to  return  to  Sackett's  Harbor. 

The  Constitution  frigate  having  undergone 
etei^  iiceess^kry  repair^  proceeded  from  Boston 
on  a  Second  cruise.  In  October.  On  the  2dt1i 
Becemberf  1812,  in  south  lat.  13.  6,  and  west 
Ion.  38,  ten  leagues  distant  from  the  coast  of 
Brazils,  fell  in  with  and  captured  his  Britannic 
llf^iesty's  frigate  Java,  after  an  acticn  of  one 
li^jir  ai|d  B5  minutes.  The  Java  carried  4U 
guns,  and  upwards  of  400  men,  and  was  cora- 
manj^d  by  captain  H.  Lambert,  a  brave  and 
gallant  officer.  The  Java  wa^  ao  perfect  si 
wreck,  that  it  seemed  extremely  doubtful  whe- 
ther she  could  be  brought  to  the  United  States, 
she  was  therefore  burned  in  two  days  after  be- 
ing eaptured. 

The  Java  had  been  lately  out  of  docli,  having 
undergone  a  thorough  repair,  in  order  to  carry 
out  Lieut.  General  Hislop,  who  was  goin^  as 
commander  in  chief  to  Bombay.  Bendes  her 
full  complement  of  men,  the  Java  had  upwards 
of  100  supernumeraries,  going  to  British  ships 
of  war  in  the  East-ImUes ;  also  several  oflicersy 
passengers,  going  out  on  promotion.  The  num- 
'  '*  en  was  considerably  more  than  that  of 
itution.  By  her  quarter-bill,  she  had 
ore  stationed  at  each  gun  than  the 
on  had.  The  loss  on  board  the  Con^ 
iras  9  killed  fui4  ^9  wounded.    The 


UlSTOKT  Of  THE  WA.1L 


n 


^Qirefny  had  60  killed  and  101  wounde(||  but  by 
a  letter  written  on  boarA^  the  ConstHlition  by 
one  of  the  officers  of  the  Java,  and  aceidenlally 
found,  it  was  evident  that  the  enemy's  wounded 
must  have  been  considerably  gr^^ater  i  the  let- 
ter states  60  killed  and  170  wounded.  This 
additional  number  of  wounded  men  havcproba* 
biy  died,  before  they  could  be  removed.  A- 
mong  the  wounded  on  board  the  Con^itution, 
was  captain  Baihbridge,  the  -commander :  cap- 
tain Lambert,  of  the  Java^  was  wounded  mor- 
tally. ; 

General  Hislop  was  immediately  paroled 
with  the  officers  of  his  staff;  atidy  at  liie  re- 
quest of  general  HisIop>  m  r*  letter  difted  St* 
Salvador,  Jan;  5,  1813,  all  tfie  officers  of  the 
Java  were  in  like  manner  paroled — Commodore 
Bainbridge  restored  all  the  private  property  of 
gen.  Hislop,  including  articles  «f  plate^  to  a 
large  amount*  * 

The  Corporation  of  the  city  of  New-Yorl< 
presented  commodore  Bainbridge  with  the  fi*ec- 
dom  of  the  city,  on  the  8th  December,  1813. 

The  following  resolution  was  passed  by  the 
Senate  of  Massachusetts,  the  19th  February^. 

f  *  2?e«o/vffrf,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Senate  be  gi-. 
ven  to  commodoi'e  William  Bainbiidge,  and  the  offi- 
cers and  crew  of  the  frigate  Constitution)  under  his 
command,  for  their  brilliant  achievement  in  captur- 
ing and  destroying  his  Briiannic  majesty's  frigate 
Java — and  that  the  commodore  be  requested  to 
communicate  the  same  to  his  officers  and  trew, 
with  an  assurance  from  this  branch  of  th«  legisla- 
ture, that  tl>ey  will  hold  in  grateful  remembrance 
those  who  fell  in  fighting  for  the  essential  and  vio* 
lated  rights  of  theif  country.'* 

Altliough  it  Is  a  fact  establit^hed^  beyond  the 


HISTOUT   OF  THE    VAU. 


Sower  of  eontpadicti on,  that  every  possible  ifi- 
uigenoe  and  attention  were  exercised  toward 
the  crew  of  the  Java,  yet  were  some  of  her  of- 
ficers so  ungrateful  as  to  charge  the  Americans 
with  having  ill-used  the  vanquished  in  a  variety 
of  ways.  In  reply  to  a  pub!'catin!  in  ith^  Bri- 
tish  nav.  Ch-oniclc,  fb/  S^;  j ,  i  jU  ^  Tho- 
mas Cook  Jones,  surgeon  o**  tbe  kr-^,  and  ano- 
ther publication  in  the  same  y  <  c^r,  frr  June, 
by  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  the  Java,  ou  urging 
the  Americans  wStb  cruelty,  kc.  Mr.  Amos 
A.  £van8,  surgeon  of  the  frigate  Constitution, 
published  In  the  Boston  Chronicle,  u  complete 
refutation  of  the  British  slander,  concluding 
with  the  following  words : 

**  t  challenge  the  British  to'produce  a  solitary  in^ 
stance^  where  they  have  given  a  faithful  and  candid 
relation  of  the  result  of  their  actions  with  us  since 
the  declaration  of  the  present  war.  They  have,  of 
late,  established  for  themselves  a  kind  of  naUonal 
character,  that,  I  trust,  none  will  envy  them  the 
possession  of;  they  have  proved,  that  although  they 
may  not  alwaya  be  able  to  conquer  in  battle,;  they 
can  prevaricate,  defame  pr  mistake,  with  as  much 
ease  as  any  nation  on  earth." 

Commodore  Rodgers  sailed  from  Boston  the 
8th  Oct.  1812,  on  his  second  cruise,  having  und^r 
his  command  the  frigate  President,  the  United 
States,  capt.  Decatur ;  Congress,  capt.  Smith  ; 
and  brig  Argus,  capt.  Sinclair.  The  President 
and  Congress  arrived  at  Boston  in  December. 
During  their  cruise,  they  captured  the  British 
paok^it  Swallow,  with  168,000  dollars  on  board, 
aadvlMish  ship  Argo,  laden  with  oil  and  whale- 
bene^.  both  of  which  arrived  some)  time  before. 
They  i^aw  no  enemy's  cruisers  but  the  Nyn^he 
and  Gi\latea>  which  they  chased^  but  lost  sight 


UI»TORT    OF  THE  ytfXU. 


V$ 


•of  in  the  night.  The  ]t^n<]i'on  have  heen  as  far 
eaft  as  Jong.  23,  and  to  the  sou(h  as  far  as  lat. 
17  N.  From  the  <  st  to  ^he  30th  Noyember* 
they  never  srw  a  saJ^.  On  the  32d'  Oetober, 
lying  to  ir;  ii  gale,  the  Presiilf  it  o^iiiung  hep 
3iiainmast  badly,  and  on  the  21st  Ueceinbery 
'while  lying  to  in  the  Gulf  Stream,  shipped  a 
heavy  sea,  >vliich  swept  tlie  slnrboard  gangway, 
started  the  boats,  killed  2  men,  and  Vvounded  7. 
The  President  brought  in  50  prisoners. 

The  speeie  was  landed  ft*om  the  President,  at 
the  navy-yard  in  Charlestown,  and  bein^  placed 
in  six  waggons,  each  earrying  the  national  co- 
lors, was  thus  carried  to  the  state  bank  in  Bos- 
ton, where  it  was  safely  deposited,  amidst  th« 
huzzas  of  thousands  of  spectators. 

The  commodore  parted  company  '^ith  the 
United  %tates  and  Argus  the  12th  October. 

The  U.  8.  brig-  Viper,  capt.  Henley,  of  13 
guns  was  captured  on  the  17th  January,  I8IS9 
In  lat.  29  N.  83.  30  W.  by  his  Britannic  rofjes- 
ty's  frigate  Narcissus,  of  32  guns^  afteraebasa 
of  $  hours.— No  fighting. 

Commodore  Bainbridge  left  the  U.  S.  sloop 
of  war  Hornet,  capt,  James  Lawrence,  off  the 
harbor  of  St.  Salvador,  where  she  renoaineil 
from  the  6th,  until  the  24th  January,  blockade 
ihg  the  Bonne  Citoyenne  and  another  arMed 
vessel.  Being  at  length  driven  from  her  sta- 
tion by  the  Montague  of  74  guns,  whieb  was 
sent  to  relieve  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  captain 
liawrence  proceeded  ofi^Oemarara  river,  ^bere. 
On  the  24th  February  $  1813,  he  iblt  iff-wtth  and 
engaged  his  Britannic  majesty's  bri^  of  w'al^ 
Peacock  I  the  action  lasted  but  15  minutes,  in 
which  short  space  of  time,  the  l^eacoek  was 
literally  out  to  pieces :   an  ensign,  union  down^ 


»      * 


w 


Z".'^)-.^ 


ulw^ 


r 


79 


HI8T0ST   OT  TITE   \V1^R. 


was  hiinc  from  ilie  fore-rigging  as  a  signal  at» 
onee  ofdistreis  and  surrender.  Lieut.  Shubrick* 
>vho  was  sent  on  board  her,  returned  with  are- 
port  that  she  was  fast  sinkings  having  then  six 
feet  of  water  in  licr  hold.  The  boats  of  the 
Hornet  were  immediately  despateiicd,  and  crcry 
possible  exertion  made  to  keep  her  afloat  until 
the  prisoners  eould  be^removedt  by  pumping  and 
hailing  without  effeety  as  she  sunk  in  five  and  a 
Jialf  fathoms  water^  carrying  down  nine  of  her 
crewy  and  three  of  the  crow  of  the  Hornet.,  viz. 
John  Hart,  Joseph  Williams,  and  Hannibal 
Boyd.  Several  of  the  Hornet's  crew  narrowly 
escaped  a  similar  fate,  being  saved  by  jumping 
into  a  boat  that  was  lying  on  the  booms,  as  sh« 
went  down. 

^  Th6  Peacock  was  one  of  the  finest  vessels  of 
her  class  in  the  British  navy  ;  she  mounted  ±9 
twenty-four  pound  carronades,  two  long  nines, 
ose  twelvo  pound  carronade  on  her  top  gallant 
forecastle  as  a  shifting  gun,  and  one  four  or  six 
pouiidcr,  and  two  swivels  mounted  aft ;  her 
urcw  consisted,  at  the  time  of  the  action,  of  one 
hundred  and  tbir(y  men. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Peacock  could  not  bo 
ascertained*  by  capt.  Lawrence,  but  must  have 
bieen  eciiisiderable.  Capt.  Peake,  her  comman- 
der, and  four  men  were  found  dead  on  board, 
and  SS  Wounded,  most  of  them  severely,  three 
of  which  died  of  their  wounds,  after  being  re* 
moved.  The  total  of  killed,  wounded  and  drown- 
ed, was  certainly  42,  and  probably  more. 

The  Espeigle,  a  British  brig,  mounting  10 
thirty-two  pound  earronadcs  and  two  long  nine's* 
h^mboutO  miles  in  shore,  and  within  sight  of 
the^aetion  :  she  declined  coming  fn  aid  of  her 
c^ffsort.  or  to  approach  the  victorious  ship,  al- 


HlSTdRT  •W  THK  WAB* 


77 


thoMgli  f  opt.  Lawrence  cleared  his  §hip  in  ex- 
pectation of  a  second  engagement. 

Captain  Lawrence ,  stated^  that  there  wtro 
two  impressed  Ameriean  seamen  on  b/^rd  the 
late  British  sioop  ot*  war  Peacookr'one  a  native 
of  the  state  of  New-York»  and  the  other  a  na- 
tive of  Norfolk.  One  of  them  was  pressed  two 
years  and  a  half»  and  the  other  about  18  months 
previous,  neither  of  them  entered,  and  both  were 
compelled  to  fight  during  the  engagement  witk 
the  Hornet. 

Before  the  engagement  commenced,  the  above 
mentioned  American  seamen  left  their  station, 
wenn  to  the  captain  of  the  Peacock,  and  asked 
his  permission  to  go  below,  with  the  crew  of  the 
brig  Hunter,  of  Portland,  as  they  could  not  fight 
against  their  country.  This  request  was  per- 
emptorily refused  by  capt.  Peake,  and  the  two 
Americans  were  forced  to  their  station,  and 
compelled  to  fight. 

Capt.  Lawrence  further  stated,  that  another 
impressed  American  was  repoi'ted  to  have  been 
on  lioard  the  Peaeock>  and  that  he  was  killed 
(luring  the  action. 

The  reader  should  not  be  carried  away  with 
the  belief,  that  the  commander  of  the  Espeigle 
was  a  CO  ward.  That  may  possibly  have  been 
the  case,  but  it  is  far  from  being  probabl.e.—— »• 
Those  who  wish  to  allow  to  American  naval  he- 
roes their  well  earned  honors,  will  be  readier  to 
ascribe  the  modesty  of  the  Englishmen  to  the 
cfiect  of  Ameriean  prowess,  than  to  British 
cowardice.  Prudence  is  a  virtue  which  often 
requires  courage  to  exercise.  Had  the  com- 
mander of  the  £speigle  encounter^  the  victo- 
rious American,  he  would  be  de£eaited«  He 
probdUy  believed  so }  and;  believing  it^iiO  aet= 
ed  with  prudencOk  q2 


4 


* 


yt 


UrlSTOIlY  01  THE  WAIl. 


\f 


Tbo  folloiving  cpmment  on  tbecaniure  oftlio 
Peacock  is  extracted  Aroni  the  Lonclon  Globe. 

«t  The  late  captain  of  the  Swalloiv  packe^,captured 
by  the  Americans)  landed  on  Monday  at  Falmouthi 
from  on  board  tlte  Childers  sloop  of  war.  He  con- 
firms the  loss  of  the  Peacock,  >vhich  struck  to  the 
Hornet,  after  a  severe  and  sanguinary  conflict,  and 
-went  down  while  the  enemy  were  taking  out  her 
crew.  Sixteen  English  and  four  Americans  went 
down  in  her;  The  force  of  the  two  vessels  was 
nearly  equal.  The  circumstances,  therefore,  which 
have  eoaolcd  America  thus  to  add  another  laurel  to 
her  brow,  it  is  most  important  to  know,  and  we 
trust  they  will  be  fully  inquired  into.  In  the  cases 
of  capture  by  large  American  frigates,  the  mercena- 
ry writers  for  the  admiralty  have  assured  their  read- 
ers tliat  they  have,  by  some  charm,  been  able  to  prac- 
tice a  decefitio  viaua  upon  our  navy  ;  that  although 
apparently  frigates,  they  are  in  fact  great  ships  of 
the  tine  ;  but  as  no  disparity  of  size  is  supposed 
to  have  existed  in  this  disaster,  Mr.  Croker^s  scribes 
will  probably  give  out,  that  the  crew  of  the  Hornet 
were  not  of  the  ordinary  race  of  sailors,  but  that  ev- 
ery one  was  a  Hercules  in  strength,  and  an  Archi- 
medes in  science." 

The  following  appeared  tn  a  Halifax  paper. 

<*  In  our  extracts  frOm  American  papers  our  read- 
el's  will  find  an  account  of.  the  capture  of  the  Pea- 
cock. The  good  fortune  of  the  Americans  has  not 
fbrsaken  them  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is  more  conspi- 
cuous in  this  than  in  their  previous  actions.  Eve- 
ry one  conversant  with  gunnery  must  knowy  that 
had  a  vessel  beett  moored  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
making  an  kxpbriment,  it  is  not  at  all  likely  she 
would  have  been  sunk  in  so  short  a  time." 

Previous  lo  the  action  with  the  Peacock, 
capt.  Lawrence  captured,  on  the  4th  Feb.  the 
Bfiglish  brig  Resolution^  of  10  guns,  from  Kio 


HIITORT  OF  THE   WAB. 


79 


Juneiroy  bound  to  Maranhanit  'which  he  burned 
after  taking  from  her  about  23,0001  sterling  in, 
specie*  On  mustering  the  morning  after  the 
action,  there  were  found  on  board  the  Hornet 
277  souls,  including  the  erew  of  the  American 
brig  Hunter,  of  Portland,  taken  a  few  days  be- 
fore by  the  Peacock.  This  additional  proof  of 
the  superiority  of  American  tactics  has  not 
been  exceeded  by  any  former  instance.  It  may 
indeed  be  said  to  have  decided  the  relative  mer^ 
its  of  American  and  British  seamen',  the  supe- 
ri  ority  claimed  by  the  British  is  no  longer  main- 
tainable— the  Americana  rank  decidedly  as  first 
in  naval  tactics. 

Capt.  Lawrence,  while  off  St.  Salvador,  sent 
a  challenge  to  capt.  Greene,  of  the  Bonne  Cito- 
yenne,  which  the  latter  prudently  declined  ac- 
cepting. 

The  following  resolutions  passed  the  common 
council  of  the  city  of  New-York,  on  the  SVtii 
March,  1813. 

«  Resolved^,  That  the  freedom  of  the  city  be  pre* 
sented  to  Captain  Lawrence,  together  with  apiece 
of  plate  with  appropriate  devices  and  inscriptionst 
and  that  his  honor  the  Recorder  be  requested  to 
forward  the  same,  with  a  copy  o£  tht^  resolution. 

Resolvedi  That  in  testimony  of  the  high  sense 
which  this  Common  Council  entertain  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  crew  of  the  United  States'  sloop  of  war 
Hornet,  by  the  capture  of  his  Britanm  -  Majesty'* 
sloop  of  war  Peacock,  in  the  unexampled  short  pe^ 
riod  of  fifteen  minutes,  that  the  Common  Council 
will  give  a  public  dinner  to  the  crew  of  the  United 
States'  sloop  of  war  Hornet." 

These  many  and  splendid  naval  victorieB  de«* 
served  not  only  the  applause  but  the  gratitude 
of  the  nation.  Congress  was  not  insefisibl^  tir 
^»,    A  law  passed  that  .body  in  Moeehr  t^isy 


so 


IIIKI^OST  OF  TUB  WAS. 


\f 


appropriating  the  sum  of.  $$25,000,  to  be  distri* 
buted  among  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Con- 
stitution, for  the  destruction  of  the  Gureriere  ; 
and  a  like  sum  of  g25,000,  for  the  destruction' 
of  the  Java  ;  and  the  sum  of  S$25,000,  to  be 
distributed  amon§  the  officers  and  okew  of  the 
Wasp,  for  the  capture  of  the  Frolie. 
'^  The  United  States'  frigate  Chesapeake,  eapt. 
Evans^  arrived  at  Boston  the  10th  April,  1813, 
from-  a  orii^e  of  115  days,  having  sailed  from 
the  same  port  the  17th  December,  1812. 
^  -  From  Boston  the  Chesapeake  ran  down  by 
the  Madeiras,  Canaries,  and  Cape  de  Yerds  ; 
thence  down  on  the  equator,  between  long.  ±S 
and  25 f  where  she  cruised  6  weeks ;  thence 
d^wn  the  coast  of  South  America,  passing  with- 
in 15  leagues  of  Surrinam,  (was  in  the  same 
place  the  Hornet  sunk  the  Peacock  the  day  af^ 
ter  she  left)  down  by  Barbadoes,  Antigua,  and 
most  of  the  windward  West-India  islands ;  thence 
on  the  United  States,  between  Bermuda  ahd  the 
Capef  of  Yirginia,  by  the  Capes  of  Delaware 
within  13  leagues,  by  New- York  within  20 
leagucR^  thenee  through  the  east  channel  to 
Boston. 

Ti^'B  Chesapeake  captured,  during  her  cruise^ 
3  British,  and  1  American  vessel  sailing  under 
a  British  licence;  and  re-captured  an  Ameri- 
can schooner.  The  Chesapeake  was  chased  by 
two  ships  of  war  (a  7^  and  a  frigate)  off  the 
H^stern  Islands.  Off  the  Capes  of  Yirginia^ 
gfive  chase  to  a  sloop  of  war,  and  continued 
<>»hABing  for  2  days,  when  the  sloop  esoaped  in 
ilte  Right  '  S6ven  inen  died  of  a  malignant  fe- 
ver;  ajid  3  were  lost  by  the  carrying  away  of 
t«ie  main-top-mast,  during  a  heavy  t^^  the  dajF 
before  her  arrival  in  pert.  . 


HISTOBT   OF  TUB   VAB^ 


On  the  36th  April,  the  enemy  in  great  force> 
invested  Fort  Meigs;  and,  on  the  1st  May^ 
commenced  a  cannonade.  .  On  the  Olh  May^the 
siege  was  raised.  The  garrison  made  suecoss- 
I'ul  sorties  against  the  right  and  left  wing  of  th^ 
enemy.  Gen.  Clay  also  attacked  the  enemy, 
with  great  snccoss,  and  spiked  several  pieces  of 
cannon ;  but  the  Kentuckiansy  with  too  much 
ardor  and  confidence,  remained  on  the  ground^ 
although  frequently  called  on  to  return  to  the 
fort,  until  attac^ked  by  a  very  superior  force  of 
Indians  and  British,  when  they  were  defeated 
with  a  loss  of  about  500  men. 

On  the  25th  April,  commodore  Chauncey 
sailed  from  Sackett's  Harbor,  having  on  board 
his  fleet  about  1700  troops,  d|^tined  to  com- 
mence operations  against  Canada.  They  arrir* 
cd  opposite  Tiittle  York,  the  capital  of  Uppei^ 
Canada,  on  the  morning  of  the  ^7th  April,  and 
immediately  .commenced  the  landing  of  the 
troops,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy.— <• 
After  a  very  severe  and  sharp  contest  of  half 
an  hour,  the  enemy  was  repulsed  by  a  iiupiher 
far  inferior  to  theirs.  As  soon  as  the  r  ^main- 
dcr  of  the  troops  had  landed,  the  enemy  retire  j 
to  his  works.  One  battery  being  carried,  the 
troops  were  advancing  towards  the  main  works^ 
when  a  tremendous  explosion  took  place  from 
a  magazine  previously  prepared,  and  which 
threw  out  an  immense  quantity  of  stones,  by 
which  the  Americans  lost  in  killed  and  woimd- 
ed  about  200  men,  among  the  killed,  the  gallant 
brigadier-general  Pike.  The  British  regular 
troops  haTing  retreated,  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  militia  agreed  to  terms  of  capitulation, 
and  the  capital  of  Upper  Canada  was  surrerftler* 
ed  to  the  American  troops.     The  Arccrieai& 


8^ 


HISTOBT   OF  HHE   WAB. 


loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  269.    Enem^^'d 
loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  9S0. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  barbarity  of  the  enemy, 
the  following  despatch  frotn  commodore  Chaiin^ 
cey  to  the  secretary. of  the  navy,  is  given. 

Sir — I  have  the  honor  to  present  to  you  by  tlie 
hands  of  Ueut,  Dudley,  the  British  standard  taken 
at  York  on  the  27th  of  April  last,  accompanied  by 
the  mace,  over  which  was  hung  a  human  scalfis 
I'hese  articles  were  taken  fr«m  the  parliament  house 
by  one  of  my  officers,  and  presented  to  me.  The 
scalp  I  causted  to  be  presented  to  general  Dearborn, 
who,  I  believe,  still  has  it  in  his  possession.  I  also 
send,  by  the  same  gentleman,  one  of  the  British 
flags  taken  at  Fort  George  on  the  27th  of  May.  I 
have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  sir,  your 
most  obedient  htlnble  servant, 

,  ISAAC  CHAUNCEY. 

On  the  32d  May,  commodore  Chauncey  sail- 
ed from  Sackctt's  Harbor,  having  S.90  men  of 
eolonel  M<Comb*s  regiment  on  board,  and  ar- 
rived near  Niagara  on  the  25th ;  the  other 
parts  of  his  squadron  had  arrived  before,  and 
landed  their  troops.  The  commodore  had  an 
immediate  interview  with  gen.  Dearborn,  and  a 
plan  of  operations  against  the  enemy  was  agreed 
on*  On  the  26th,  the  commodore  rcconnoiter- 
cd  the  position  for  landing  the  troops  ;  and,  at 
uight,  sounded  the  shore.  The  morning  of  the 
27th,  w^s  fixed  on  for  an  attack  on  the  enemy 
at  Foi^t  George.  The  heavy  artillery,  and  as 
many  troops  as  could  be  stowed,  were  taken  on 
board  the  fleet,  the  remainder  were  ordered  to 
embark  on  board  boats,  and  follow  the  fleet. — 
At  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  signal  was  made 
for  (he  fleet  to  weigh,  and  the  troops  were  em.- 
barked  on  board  the  boats  before  4<j  and  soon 


'l^v 


UISTOXT  07  THE  UTAIU 


93 


after,  generals  Dearborn  and  Lewis  vent  on 
board  the  fleet.  In  the  course  of  the  morning, 
the  different  vessels  adyanced,  and  took  ncsi- 
tions  as  directed.  All  the  vessels  anchored 
within  musket  shot  of  the  Canada  shore  ;  and 
in  ten  minutes  after  they  opened  upon  the  bat- 
teries, they  were  completely  silenced  and  aban* 
doned.  The  light  troops,  under  col.  Scott  and 
major  Forsyth,  landed  at  9  o'clock  ;  gen.  Lew-, 
is's  divisions  with  light  artillery,  under  colonel 
Porter,  supported  them.  GenrBoyd*s  brigade 
landed  immediately  after;  and  generals  Winder 
and  Chandler  followed  in  quick  successdon,—- — 
The  enemy,  who  had  been  concealed  in  a  ra- 
vine, now  advanced  in  great  force  to  the  edge  of 
the  bank,  and  disputed  the  landing  with  great 
warmth  ;  but  the  coolness  and  intrepidity  of 
the  Americans  compelled  them  to  give  way  in 
every  direction.  The  enemy  soon  deserted  the 
fort,  which  was  occupied  before  nooki  by  the 
Americans.  The  enemy  lost  108  killed,  163 
wounded,  and  113  taken  pri&oners.  The  Amer- 
icans lost  39  killed,  and  111  wounded.  In  the 
enemy's  loss,  507  militia,  who  were  paroled^ 
are  not  included* 

l^ip*  to  the  taking  of  Fort  George,  three 
Americans  in  the  camp,  who  refused  to  bear 
arms,  were,  by  order  of  col.  Clark,  taken  out, 
and  without  ceremony,  shot  /  This  infernal 
scoundrel  met  with  his  deserts  soon  after— ho 
was  killed  at  the  time  of  the  surprise  of  gener- 
als Winder  and  Chandler. 

A  fire  was  kept  up  at  intervals,  during  the 
succeeding  night,  from  the  batteries  at  Fort 
ICrie.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  all  the  ma- 
gazines from  Chippewa  to  Point  Albino  were 
blown  upi  the  enemy  retreated  ;  and  Fort  Erie 


^i, 


mSTOET   OF  THE   Wil^k 


was  entered  in  the  afternoon  by  the  American 
troops. 

In  these  different  transactions,  commodore 
Chauncey  bore  a  spirited  and  useful  part.  The 
loss  on  board  bis  fleet  consisted  of  5  killed  and 
11  wounded. 

Capt.  Perry,  afterward  known  as  the  hero  of 
£rie,  volunteered  his  services  on  this  occasion, 
and  materially  aided  in  securing  success.  «  He 
was,"  according  to  commodore  Chauneey's  re- 
port, **  present  at  every  point  where  he  could 
be  useful,  under  showers  of  musketry",  but  for- 
tunately, escaped  unhurt." 

The  enemy .V  probably  with  a  wish  to  perform 
some  exploit  (hat  might  balance  his  losses  in 
the  neighborbood  of  Niagark,  prepared,  with  a 
strong  force,  to  attack  the  American  post  at 
Sackett's  Harbor.  On  the  28th  May,  the  ene- 
my's flee^.  appeared,  accompanied  by  a  large 
number  of  boats.  Lieut.  Chauncey^  of  the  na- 
vy, (*ZYnG  in  from  the  lake,  firing  alarm  guns. 
Geti.  Jacob  Brown,  who  commanded  the  fort, 
made  every  possible*  disposition  to  repel  the  me- 
iiaced  attack.  On  the  morning  of  the  29th,  33 
large  boats,  filled  with  troops,  came  off  from 
the  enemy,  and  proceeded  to  Garden-islaMjIm- 
der  cover  of  some  gun- boats.  The  militia,  sta- 
tioned near  where  the  enemy  proposed  to  land, 
firdd  with  considerable  effect,  and  then  fled  from 
their  post.  The  enemy  effected  a  landing  with 
about  1200  men  at  Horse-island.  A  detach- 
ment of  r^ll'itia,  under  command  of  captain 
M*Nitt,  tht»cv  1  jff'.nse'  ^es,  with  considerable 
oflfect,  on  the  re«t  of  the  enemy's  left  flank, 
while  the  r Til^^^r,  oix!e'  eolonel  T)ackus,  en- 
gaged VMU  r '!!  ii  ■fJnv,  3en.  Prevost,  who 
commanded  else   PifiUati  cxpediu  m,  retreated 


UISTOUT  OF  THE   WAR. 


%S 


mih  great  precipitation,  under  protection  of  the 
guns  of  his  vessels  ;  and  thus  sa>  ^d  himself  and 
men  from  being  made  prisoners.  According  to 
a  previous  arrangement,  it  was  agreed,  that,  in 
a  certain  event,  the  stores,  &c.  at  the  navy- 
point,  should  be  destroyed.  This  event  did  not 
happen  ;  but  sOme  person,  unauthorised,  brought 
information  to  lieut.  Ghauncey,  tliat  the  battle 
was  lost — the  stores^  accordingly,  were  destroy- 
ed. 

Gen.  Jacob  Brown,  of  the  state  of  New-York, 
who  commanded  the  land  forces  at  §iMskett^t 
Harbor,  gave  a  substantial  proof  of  thdse  mil  < 
tary  talents,  which,  in  all  his  subsequent  opera- 
tions, were  so  conspicuously  useful  to  his  coun- 
try, and  soTiniPormly  honorable  to  himself,  that 
even  envy  never  dared  lisp  an  insinuation  dis- 
cretitable  or  dishonorable  to  the  general.  Sir 
James  Lucas  Yeo  commanded  the  British  ileeu 

The  enemy's  loss  was  very  considerable,  in- 
cluding several  o/lficers  of  distinction.  The 
Americans  lost  about  150  in  kilku  and'  wound- 
ed ;  colonel  Mills  was  killed,  and  colonel  Bac- 
us  mortally  wounded.  About  400  regular  troops 
sustained  the  heat  of  the  action. 

'  At  the  close  of  th<3  action,  a  British  barge, 
with  a  naval  lieutenant,  under  a  flag  of  truce, 
came  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  demanded  of 
an  officer  who  was  standing  there,  in  the  name 
of  the  general  and  commodore,  the  surrender 
of  Sackett's  Harbor.  The  officer  replied  «  N o,** 
»nd  the  flag  returned. 

The  pride  and  presumed  superiority  of  Bri- 
tain on  htr  own  domain,  the  ocean,  was  matC" 
rially  tarnished.  .  The  laurels  plueked  from 
France,  Spain,  Portugal,  and  Holland^  were 
withering,  and  seemed  to  be  transferred  to  adorii 


89 


HISTORY  OH  THE  WAIT* 


the  brows  of  the  liUherto  despised  comniandcrs 
of  the  JAllifmiian  fleet  of  Amcriea.  It  ^as 
resolved,  by  the  enemy,  to  retrieve  lost  honor. 
An  expedient  was  resorted  to  which  was  8ucccb8« 
ful,  so  far  as  the  capturing  of  a  ship,  yet  an 
astonished  and  admiring  world  remained  unal- 
tered in  the  opinion,  that  the  superiority  of 
American  tars  was  not  lessened  by  the  event, 
nor  the  fading  lustre  of  British  invincibility,  la 
any  manner,  retrieved. 

For  some  time  before  the  1st  of  June,  the 
British  Irigates  Tenedos,  Bellepoule  and  ^ha^- 
non,  were  off  the  harbor  of  Boston,  where  the 
Chesapeake  lay.  The  Tenedos  and  Bellepoule, 
having  put  a  part  of  their  crew  on  board  the 
Shannon,  proceeded  to  sea.  The  Shannon  (I he 
best  frigate  in  the  British  navy)  appeared  alone 
otf  the  harbor,  on  which  the  Chesapeake  got 
binder  weigh,  at  meridian,  on  1st  June  ;  at  15 
minutes  before  6,  an  action  commenced,  within 
pistol  shot,  and,  in  a  lew  minutes,  the  vessels 
elosed ;  the  arm-chest  of  the  Chesapeake  was 
blo>vn  up  by  a  hand  grenade  thrown  from  the 
enemy's  ship,  and  immediately  after  the  Ches- 
apeake was  carried  by  boarding,  and  the  private 
signals  of  the  navy  of  ^le  United  States  fell  la- 
to  the  hands  cf  the  enemy. 

The  enemy  boasted  not  of  this  victory,  it  cost 
him  too  dear  and  was  an  indisputable  proof  of 
American  bravery.  Never  was  there  such  car- 
nage between  two  ships,  in  so  short  a  time^— --— 
The  loss  on  board  the  Shannon  cannot  be  exaet- 
]y  ascertained  ;  the  loss  on  board  the  Chesa- 
^eaaSte  was  ^8  killed,  and  96  -wouiided.  Total 
kHled  and  wounded,  144. 

Every  officer,  upon  whom  the  eommand  of 
the  ship  would  devolve^  was  dthei:  kiUed  or 


BISTORT   OF  THE  WAS. 


# 


voun<le<],  previously  to  the  capture  of  the  ves- 
sel. The  brave  capt.  Lawrence  was  inortallj 
wounded. 

On  the  autliority  of  captain  John  Upton,  com- 
mandcp  of  the  privateer  Cossack,  of  Salem,  t-50 
following  circumstances  were  puhlishcU  in  an 
eastcrsi  paper, 

«  After  the  enemy  had  complete  possession  of  the 
Ship,  and  the  men  were  ordered  from  the  tops,  Mr. 
Berry,  a  midshipman,  who  commanded  the  mizen 
top,  surrendered  himself  as  a  prisoner,  when  two 
sailors  rushed  up,  and  seizing  him  by  the  collar,  at' 
tempted  to  throw  him  overboard,  but  he  got  within 
the  shrouds,  when  they  seized  him  by  the  heel?,  and 
pitched  him  on  the  deck  I  Being  stunned  by  the  fall} 
he  lay  some  time  senseless,  and  when  he  came  too, 
he  was  cut  over  the  head  with  a  cutlass,  which  ncar- 
ly  terminated  his  exirtence.  Mr.  Livingston,  ano- 
ther midshipman,  after  receiving  a  mu&ket  ball 
through  his  body,  was  run  through  the  body  three 
times,  notwithstanding  his  rept^ated  cries  for  quar- 
^ters,  (and  after  the  enemy  had  possession  of  the 
ship  !)  he  lived  lohg  enough  to  express  his  i'dig- 
nation  at  the  brutality  of  his  enemies,  and  expired 
in  a  few  hours.  Three  men  were  Ivilied  in  the  hold 
after  the  capture  of  the  ship,  and  they  even  fired  in- 
to the  cockfiit,  among  the  wounded  and  dyinj^  !  Ele- 
ven of  the  Chesapeake's  officers  were  confined  in  a 
small  place,  9  feet  by  6,  with  a  guard  at  the  door, 
till  their  arrival  at  Halifax,  and  only  1  or  2  perni't- 
ted  to  come  out  at  a  time.  Men  were  shot  at  in 
coming  down  out  of  the  tops  to  surrender  them- 
selves, and  other  instances  of  barbarity  took  place, 
disgraceful  to  a  civilized  people." 

The  boastings  of  Rrifish  editors,  and  Ihere- 
joicinj»s  of  British  partizans,  were  ra<hei»  mad 
than  enthusiastic  on  the  recovery  of  fei*  tri- 
dent by  the  mistress  of  the  deep;  but  th^s  rc- 


•w. 


^*„..- 


^ 


JUISTOBT  OF  TBE   tVAlk 


joieing  did  not  long  continue  ;  the  Aiets  con- 
nected mih  the  engagement  could  not  be  long 
concealed.  The  cowardly  superiority  of  the 
enemy,  the  unexamrpled  bravery  of  the  Ameri- 
cans, and  the  great  loss  of  blood  in  defence  of 
their  flag,  especial  ly  when  contrasted  with  for- 
mer engagei  \ients,  in  which  the  enemy  was  de- 
feated, left  no  solid  ground  for  exultation,  no- 
thing of  which  to  boast.  The  unprejudiced 
reasoner  will  be  yet  f  und  holding  the  laurel 
and  doubting  whether  to  award  it  to  the  yictors 
or  the  vanquished.  The  honors  conferred  on 
cai)t.  Broke,  by  his  countrymen,  were  justly 
^\m  m  great  valour,  of  which  he  is  certainly 
poi^sessed,  although,  in  this  instanae,  it  was  tar- 
nished by  a  Uastardly  plan  to  render  succesi 
certain. 

The  body  of  captain  Lawrence  was  interred 
at  Halifax  on  the  8th  June  ;  on  which  occasion, 
the  British  officers  joiiiod  in  procession,  to  show 
their  respect  for  a  naval  commander,  whose 
heroism,  skill  and  demeanor,  drew  respect  from 
all,  even  from  the  enemy. 

Captain  Crowinshield,  of  Salem,  (Ms.)  hav- 
ing obtained  a  flag  of  truce,  proceeded  to  ffali- 
fax  in  the  brig  Henry,  at  his  own  private  ex* 
pense  ;  and,  being  permitted  to  take  on  board 
Ms  vessel,  the  body  of  captain  Lawrence  arid 
also  that  of  lieutenant  Lndlow,  brought  fhe 
corpses  to  Salem,  where  a  funeral  proeession 
took  place  on  the  17th  August,  with  every  mark 
of  regret,  esteem  and  gratitude,  whieli  the  citi- 
zens could  bestow.  Judge  Story  delivered  a 
suitable  oration  :  the  effect  produecrl  on  the  au- 
dience, when  the  orator  pronounced  the  last  dy- 
ing words  of  Lawrence,  "  dont  give  i  p  the 
SHIP,"  may  be  conceived ;  to  describe  it  would 
be  impossible. 


HISTOBT  07  TRB   VfAM, 


^ 


Mr.  Edward  N.  Cox,  brother-in-law  to  cap- 
taiD  Lawrence,  proceeded  to  Salem,  and»  having 
received  tlie  bodies  of  the  two  Jieroes,  convey., 
ed  them  to  the  city  of  New-York,  where  they 
were  finally  interred.  The  arrangements  fop 
a  public  funeral  were  made  under  the  direction 
of  a  committee  of  the  common  council  of  tho 
city. 

On  Thursday,  the  16th  September,  puriiuant 
to  arrangements,  the  bodies  of  our  valiant  ooun* 
trymen,  Lawrence  and  Ludlow,  were  finally 
consigned  to  the  peaceful  tomb.  The  unusual 
number  which  swelled  the  mournful  procession, 
and  the  undissembled  sorrow  which  marked  ev» 
cry  countenance,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest 
onler,  eviuced,  in  an  uuparalleled  degree,  the 
public  sympathy,  and  that  the  hon<»r8  paid  (o 
the  <«  mightj  dead"  were  not  more  eonspicuous 
than  deserved.  On  no  similar  occasion  have 
we  witnessed  a  testimonial  of  respect  so  univer- 
sal and  sincere.  It  was  indeetl  a  day  of  mourn* 
ing.  The  hearts  of  hoary  patriots  and  youth- 
ful heroes,  beat  in  solemn  unison,  and  die  bright 
eye  of  beauty  glistened  with  a  tributary  tear.— 
Not  only  the  reflections  arising  fi  cm  such  a 
scene,  but  every  transaction  connected  with  the 
proceedings  of  the  day,  were  calculated  to  in- 
spire with  reverence  the  coldest  aud  most  disin-^ 
terested  spectator. 

'^riie  concourse  of  spectators  who  witnessri] 
this  interesting  and  impressive  exiiiy tion  was 
innumerable,  and  is  supposed  to  aRt^iriit  Ab  for- 
ty or  tifty  thousand.  The  streets  were  Ikii'4^ 
tlie  wimlows  crowded,  and  the  ro«ls  eoveretl 
with  citizens,  viewing  tlw  grand  and  sclemn 
spectacle.  The  cavafeade  ofbrnit^  in  the  hur^ 
bor^  from  its  novelty  in  particular,  attrsicu^ 

M2 


90 


nir^TORT   OT  THE   WAlt. 


mueh  attention,  and  the  wharves  and  the  rigging; 
of  the  vessels  in  the  docks  were  crowded  with 
spectators. 

The  corporation  made  a  provision  of  1,000 
^•llar3  for  each  of  the  two  infant  children  of 
oaptain  Lawrence. 

An  application  to  the  British  naval  officer, 
captain  Oliver,  for  permission  to  convey  the 
bodies  of  Laurence  and  Ludlow,  hy  water,  to 
New- York,  was  shamefully  refused, 

Jttko  following  extracts,  translated  from  a 
French  paper,  is  worthy  of  a  place  here, 

('The  British)  who  bad  triumphed  in  bo  many  na- 
val combats  previously  to  the  prevailing  American 
war»  have  long  relinquished  the  practice  of  rejoicing 
for  victories  obtained  over  a  single  frigate.      If  an 
achievement  of  that  sort  took  pkce  again^  any  of 
the  European  powers,  the  detail  of  the  action  was 
merely  inserted  in  the  London  Gazette,  the  papers 
of  the  metropolis  echoed  the  narrative,  paid  a  pres- 
sing compliment  to  the  officer,  and  the  affair  went 
off)  being  recorded  firo  memoria^   in  the   Naval 
Chronicl^,  as  a  thing  of  course.     Votes  of  honor 
from  the  corporation  of  London,  a  sword  of  a  hun- 
ted guineas  value,  and  parliamentary  encomiums, 
were  reserved  for  the  hero  who  should  destroy  a 
fitet.    The  battle  of  the  Nile,  that  of  Trafalgar, 
and  the  Uke,  were  alone  brilUwt enough  to  excite 
the  applause  of  a  people  grown  callous  to  common 
feats  of  renown,  and  who,  accustomed  to  vanquish 
every  thing  on  the  ocean,  believed  tbemselvesom- 
iiipotent  on  that  element.     In  tlMei  Americans,  the 
British  have  found  an  enemy  that  has  obstructed 
the  agreeable  train  of  their  maritime  ideas.      The 
"Citizens  of  the  United  States  are  the  best  seamen 
Jjb  the  world.      Their  officers  are  men  of  nautical 
^  <iKience,  of  great  experienc^^  and  geneniUy  io  the 
^A^me  of  life.-    The  first  nairft'  xombal  of  the  war^ 
marked,  not  a  simple  equality^  of  Skill  aiid  courage 


iniSTORT   OF  THE  WAE. 


M 


in  the  men  of  the  two  countries,  but  a  decided  su- 
periority in  favor  of  the  Americans.  If  the  £R' 
glish  pride  was  mortified  al  the  sudden  reverse  in 
the  case  of  the  Guerriere,  the  whole  British  ^ 
vemment  was  thrown  into  consternation  at  the  cap- 
ture' of  the  Macedonian,  the  Java,  the  Frolic,  and 
the  Peacock,  buch  rapid  and  successive  defeats 
made  the  cabinet  of  ;t.  James  bristle  again  ;  it 
seemed  as  if  all  the  English  captains  were  doomed 
to  pass,  one  after  the  other,  under  the  Yankee  yok  ;, 
or  to  the  regions  of  the  dead  !" 

('  A  triumph  gained  by  something  very  like  an 
artifice,  has  given  occasion  to  the  most  extravagant 
demonstrations  of  joy  in  Londoti<  A  member  of 
Parliament,  whose  name  is  Croaker^^hich  In  Hait 
English  tongue,  signifies  a  noisy,  but  contemptible 
reptile,  has  pronounced  on  the  occasion  a  most 
preposterous  eulogium,  and  the  corporation  of  Lon- 
don have  treated  the  affair  as  if  the  fleets  of  all  the 
world  had  been  anchored  in  the  Thames,  as  trophies 
of  their  valor !  Who  is  there  that  does  not  perceive 
in  this  vaporing  of  the  Islanders,  a  real  fear  for 
their  ultimate  naval  superiority  ?  The  An\^i|ans 
will  soon  recover  from  this  event.  They  areVp^|^ 
pie  that  do  not  yield  to  misfortune.  We  had  sonro 
experience  of  them  30  years  ago  ;  and  they  have 
already  evinced  that  they  have  not  degenerated.'*  • 

The  barbarous  usage  ^hich  the  crew  of  the 
Chesapeake  received  from  the  enemy,  when 
contrasted  with  the  treatment  which  the  brave 
Lawrence  and  his  crew  observed  wben  they 
were  yictors^  is  the  best  possible  comment  oa 
the  character  of  both  nations. 

It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note,  and  in  the  highest 
degree  honourable  to  our  brave  tars,  that  on  the 
day  succeeding  the  destruetion  Of  the  Peacock^ 
the  crew  of  the  Hornet  made  a  subscription  and 
supplied  the^prisiOners  (who  had  los^almost  eye* 
vy  thing)  ii^iib  tvff>  ubir £b  and  u  jacket  und  ^trow- 
V  -4  each. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


1.0 


I.I 


I4S 


■  50     ""^^        IIW^^ 

u&  mil  2.0 


1.8 


L25  iu  ill  1.6 


6"     — 


^ 


/a 


0 


y. 


/A 


m 


w 


7 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  875-4503 


4fs 


m< 


^isi'cttiir Hit  TUB  wim; 


The  ^llo^win^  is  the  offioml  report  of  nn  ex^ 
traorciiimr}r  event  which  oeciirred  on  (be  6ih  Juiie. 
^^s^atsi  Ictt^jt  from  majoi -general  Dearborn* 
*r  :  td  the  seeretary  of  war.  " 

J^^  Fore  Georgey  June  6,  1813.  . 

Slf'-^l  have  received  an  express  frocn  the  head^^ 
et  the  lake  this  evenings  with  iiitelligeticey  that  our 
troops*  commanded  by  brig,  gen.  Chandler)  were  at-> 
taclied  at  two  o'clock  this  morning  by  th^t  whole  o£ 
the  British  and  Indian  fortes,  and  by  some  strange 
futalitj,  though  ptMT.  loss  was  small,  ^^not  exceeding' 
thirty.)  and  thoentmy  completely  routed  and  driv- 
en from  the  fietd^  j^th  brig.. generals  (  handler  and 
iyyitid«,r)  we  ret  taken  prisoner  su    Thpy  had  adya.ced 

,  to  an<fertain,the  situation  of  a  company  of  artillery, 
when  the  attack  commenced.  Gen.  Vincent  i« 
fiaid  t0lt>e  anittng  the  killed  of  the  enemy  ;  colonel 
Clarke' was  mortally  wounded  and  fell  into  our, 
lUij&dfir  with  60  prisoners  of  the  49th  Biitish  rrgi- - 
meat.  %he  whole  loss  6f  the  enemy  is  2SPi  The^ 
sent  in  a. flag  with  a  request  to  busy  their  deiid.— — n 

^  G^n.  Lewis,  accompanied  by  bs  ig .  geu.  Boyd,  goe*: 
oft^jll^eke  the  command  of  tbeadvanced  troops. 

Wif|^^iiears>  tl^at  oothU  oceasion,  (he  advancr 
0d-|;uard  of  the  American  army  cominesK^ed  a 
iiarp  iikirmish  with  the  advance  of  the  enenij} 
*^  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  June  ;  the  latter  wa» 
•ompelled  to  retreat  into  a  thick  wood.  In  tlj^ni 
«yening  the  Amerreans.toor;  a  position  heiiind 
8toney>er«ek  ;  the  lij^ht  kutantry  and  paK  of 
the  rifle  eopps  fornied  the  right  >vjng ;  the  ar- 
tillery, the  centre  ;  the   $th,  16th  ftml  23d  iq- 

.^||i|try«' and  some  riflemen,  the  left ;  and  the  ea» 
l^lf^  in  the  rear;  the  picket  guardH  werCr 
^^wagf  and  so^  placed  as  to  inrrotiYitl  fhe  e^- 
•atnpioent  with  centinels.  The  wilpe  ioree  did 
Bot  exceed  :iO0O  m^Qrhtit  thjeir  dl^|l^tion  wa^ 


iDIsrtORT  Of  TBB  WAM* 


1KI 


men  were  enoampedpti  the  border  of-thellike^ 
for ^the  proteetion  of  the  boats. 

About  £  o'clock  in  the  ntorniiig[9  the  ^B^iilj 
foieed  the  piefcet,  and  attacked  the  eaea]np>- 
ment,  in  the  dark,  with  hh  whole  fVirce:  irre- 
gulars and  Indians.  The  A  merieans  wii&itolid 
and  resisted  the  enemy  with  such  resolittlon  and 
suecessy  that,  when  the  da;  dawned,  none  of  the 
enemy  were  to  be  seen,  but'  the  killed  and 
wounded,  who  covered  the  fiel4  ^  battle. 

The  attack  began  on  the  ri^^  liiid  was  g;ai- 
lantly  repelled  by  the  fire  of  th^||p|j|i^t  troo]^ 
and  25th  raiment,  commanded  by^ijlaj.  Smith, 
in  a  few  minu^  it  became  .  genS^al  aloBj^  the 
whole  line,  smd  was  nobly  returned  by  the  ar- 
tillery of  the  centre,  commanded  by  captains 
Townsend  and  Xr.  Leonard,  and  by  the  troops  of 
the  left  wing,  viz.  the  5th  under  lieiit.  eol.  1!^^ 
ton,  the  23d  comnanded  by  major  Ariit^troiig^ 
and  the  tech.  The  fire  continued  witlfliiile  in^ 
termission  for  one  hour,  during  which  time  the  ^ 
enemy  attempted^  by  frequent  ehai'ges,  to  break 
our  line^  but  without  e^ot,  being  obliged  to 
give  way  by  the  well  direeted-fire  of  our  brave 
troOTS. 

•The  13^  and  ikh  re^ments  (which  had  been 
detached  the  preceding  evening^  were  active^  itf 
making  prisoner?,  and  advanced  with  much  ar* 
dor  to  the  field,  in  hopes  of  ^baring  with  the 
gallant  5tb  and  25th,  2dd  and  light  troops,  the 
glory  of  another  eombat.  But  t^e.  unfortunate 
capture  of  brig.  gens.  CbandliBi  ^iiil'^l^^ 
vr|o  we#e  taken  in  the  action  nnknovirii^ Any 
pak  of  tii^arm^,  and  burned  to  the  enemy '» 
lines,  prevented  the  future  operations*  from  be*^ 
ing  carried  into  efl^ect,  with  the  promptitude 
livhioh  ^oilld  aB8ilrei%  hate  taken  plaee  had 


m 


"^' 


'.  X 


•fiisTonir  OP  the  war. 


'  *ei^her  of  Ibose  officers  been '  present  to  eote ' 
mand. 
As  soon  as  it  was  discovered  that  generals 

.vi|j?i<irtlc  and  Chandler  were  prisoners,  colonel 
'Janies  Burn,  on  whom  the  command  devolved* 
summoned  a  eonncil  of  war,  a  majority  of 
whom  deeided,  that  the  army  ought  to  retire  to 

lits  fbrmer  position,  at  Forty- mile- creek.  , 
^?l%e  army  oi|  this  occasion^  has  proved  ifs 
firmness  and  bravery,  by  keeping  ltd  position  in 
ii'nlight  attack,  in  whieh  the  yells  of  the  Indian?, 
Hiiingled  with  the  roaring  of  cannon  and  mus' 
keti'y^  were  calculated  to  intiinjdate.  The  ene« 
iriy 'charged  repeatedly,  and  so  dark  was  the 
night,'  t|b^ti  our  army  eould  not  distinguish  friend 

;^m  fw  ^  In  One  of  these  they  succeeded  in 

..iW'.ryinG*  offa  6  pounder,  a  howitzer  and  a  cais* 
'iirt,  ^  the  great  srtbrtification  of  our  brave  ar- 
tU^ery.  It  h  prespraedlt  was  on  that  occasion  al- 
iiothat;  we  lost  our  generals,  who  were  distinctly 
Ime^M  encouraging  our  meti  to  fight.  The 
squadron  of  dragoons  reinained  formed  and 
steady  at  their  posts,  but  eould  not  act  on  ac- 

%<0OuniOf  the  darkness  of  tbe  nii|ht,  aiid  the 
ness  of  the  adjacent  woods. 

(^tofkilledy  wounded  and  miaaivgy  inMe  actiqn 
'        "        qf  the  &th  Juncy  at  Stgney  Creek. 

JCtlled-^\  sergeant,  I  corporal,  15  privates. 

JVounded-r-'i  cvi^t&inf  1  sergeant)  i  corporals  and* 
54  privatts.     , 

im««t;i^—>S  brigadier- generals,  I  major,  3  cap- 
tains, :  subaltern,  9  sergeants,  4  corporals,  80  prii> 
vates. 

Total,  killed,  wounded  and  mi«sifi|^,^454. 

Correct  returns  from  the  reports'of  t^c'diflTewnt 
dorps  in  thd  action  of  the  6th  inst.  atStoney  Crecli^ 

J.  JOHNSONi  Ast;  Ad).  Gch.  ' 


pr 


BISTOItT  OF  TOE  "WAR. 


9^' 


The  enemy  acknowledged  to  have  on  tfai»  oe- 
ciasioO)  the  8th  or  l^inMB  regiinent,  280  aienT; 
49th  regiment  430—-lMal  regular  71Q>  bedde. 
«*  a  powerful  body  o^iiidiaps,  u^er  the  C^hiiof 
Norton."  Ah  the  enem^^^kes  no  mentiob  of, 
his  militia,  and  as  he  iS:.  known  to  under-rate 
his  actual  force,  in  every  action,  it  mii||,J[ie  il^ 
posed  that  his  force,  in  the  engagement' al^StiM 
ney>creek,  was  very  considerable.  ;-    :^ 

The  American  army  took  ^p  ^position  ni 
Forty-mile-creek,  1 0  miles  in  rear  of  ^tjyu|^i*ou||j^ 
en  which  it  had  been  attacked. '  fteBe^  it  1^ 
joined  at  5  o*clock  in  the  afternooii  of  the  ^^% 
June,  by  a  reinforcement  under  committid  w 
gen.  Lewis.  At  6  o'clock  in  tb^  evening,  tii0 
hostile  fleet  hove  in  sight  ;  the  Amerjoans  lay: 
on  their  arms,  during^^he  night.  At  dawn  ^f* 
day,  the  squadron  appeared  about  a. mile  |Hfi^ 
the  shore  ;  about  6  o'clock  towed  in  u  >i|i^ 
schooner,  (it  beii^  a  dead  calm)  with  a  view  1% 
destroy  a  number  of  boats  attached  to  the  Apt^^ 
riean  army,  which  lay  on  the  beach.  By  meai^ 
of  a  temporary  furnace,  constructed  in  lialf  an 
hour,  under  direction  of  capt.  Totten  of  tbe  en« 
gineers,  aj^d  ^^|)y  the  successful  fire  from  four 
pieces  of  wrtillery,  worked  by  the  men  of  capt. 
Archer  and  Towson's  companies,  the  enemy's 
schooner  was  compelled  to  retire,  without  effect- 
ing the  destruction  of  the  boats.  A  party  of 
Indians,  having  occupied  a  coromandii^  emi- 
nence, commenced  an  attack  on  the  Americana^ 
but  were  soon  dislodged,  and  forced  to  retreat 
before  a  party  of  voIunteersii|ndet*  command  of 
lieat.  £ldri4ge,  adjutant  in  eoi.  Christie's  regi- 
ment.  Sir  JiMiies' Teo,  commander  of  the  ene- 
my's i}eet  having  failed  in  his  attack  on  the 
boatsy  sent  ajftag  to  th^  American  commander^ 


■^W" 


u 


tttltOHy  OV  VHB  -WAE. 


,.''V 


daisian^inl^  a  surreiider  of  the  army  ;  to  this  a 
y€^bal  ticg^adve  was  gi\^  On  the  14th|  a  part 
of  the  oftinp*e<|uipa^  anil  baggie  iwere  put  ia 
'%  tio^ts ;  and  -the '  weatther^'heinf;  favorahley  the 
boats  put  oif>  wlthout%aiting  for  a  detaohment 
Of  200  men  whieh^were  ordered  to  go  on  board 
fbf  the  {purpose  of  protecting  tliem»  in  ease  of 
~  tag  attacked.  It  was  for  a  short  tiaie  oalm» 
I'A'breez^  springing  up,  when  they  had  pro- 
iiised  about  t{^*ee  miles,  they  were  bore  down 
OB- by  an  armed  schooner ;  the  most  enterpris* 
ing  kept  on  ande«eaped>  others  ran  to  the  shore 
land  deserted' their  boats  ;<  twelve  of  the  boats* 
^rinei^ly  containing  baggage  of  the  efiieers 
and  mefijWsre^aken.  At  lOo^clocky  general 
Ijewif  ^t  the  army  in  motion*  in  order  to  re- 
turn tifr  Niagara;  the  Caliadianmilitia  and  sav- 
ages hung  on  their  flanks  and  rear  during  the 
i^Btreat.-  -  '   \'  -  •  "    ,,.^1-  '•     ^  ■  » ■■    ^.^^ 

'  Lieut,  eol.  Boerstler  was  l[etao)ied,^  on  the 
evening  of  23d  June*  with  570  men*  to  a  place 
ealled  Beaver-dams,  about  9  miles  from  Queens- 
towhy  ts6  disperse  a  body  of  the  enemy  cotieoted 
£there.  The  enemy's  force  was  understood  to 
Consist  of  above  80  regulars,  150  0r^O  militia* 
and  50  or  60  Indians.  Col.  BoersttePa detach- 
ment reached  within  about  two  mUe#iiff'Beaver- 
dions  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning*  when  it  was 
attacked  ft*ora  an  ambuscade*  consisting  of  500 
regulars  and  100  Indians^  but  soon  repulsed  the 
enemy*  and  then  retii^  to-  av^elear  fields  and 
sent  an  express  fo^  reinforcements.  A  ^liin^* 
foreement  of  SOO  tnen*  under  ooikuiiand  <if ^||j» 
Chrystie*  was* quickly  marched  4o^ -the ^«f 
foLBoerstler  ;  but* on  arrivkig at Qajt^nst^^n** 
Sra^  informed,  that  iieUt.  eol.  Boei*s^»f^ith 
ibis  eommaitd  had^surrenderedlo  the  tnemy*'^ 


*":^.: 


W: 


# 


mvMmw  99  wn  ir4|k 


#• 


119 


The  reinPoroemeiit  retarned  to  eMp»:     The 
Amerioan  troops  fou^^wUh  creat  brarerj  fi^ 
two  hoursy  while  sor^lilinded  by  Buperior  ihioi- 
bers.    Gefl.  Dearborn*  in  his  o^loial  statennHiti 
dated  at  Fort  George^  Jane  36lh»  expresses  w 
surprise  <*  why  It  should  have  been  deemed 
proper»  to  remain  several  hours  in  a  portion 
surrounded  with  woods^  without  either  rls^wig 
a  decisive  action^  or  effecting  a  retreat,  r(iiiia(|if 
to  be  aeeounted  for»  as  well  as  the  project  ef 
HaittiHi^lbr  a  reinforcement  from  a  distanee  of 
fiftees^oi  sixteen  miles.'*    This  dtfiieulty  was 
soon  olsared  up  by  major  Chapinl  who  com- 
manded the  militia  at  the  battle  of  Beaver^damSf 
but  whok^  arrived  at  Buffaloe  in  the  ni^ht  of  the 
13th  July*  having,  together  \iith  his  eompan^r 
escaped  from  the  enefiy,  after  being  prisoners 
of  war.     Capt.  Chapin  stated,  that  the  enemy 
was  considerably  superior  in  number,  notwith- 
standing  which,  lieut.  col.  Boerstler  would  have, 
been  able  to  maintain  his  position  or  cut  a  pi|s- 
sage  through  the  enemy  so  as  to  eifeot  a.  retreat  $ 
but  at  this  juncture^  a  British  officer  rede  up,, 
and  demanded  a  surrender  of  the  American; 
party«.    T^Mlemand  was  made*  he    lid,  to  pre* 
Yont  Ihe^fipision  of  blood.     He  assertcl  also  jip- 
OB  his  ftoi^,:  and  declared  in  the  mo&t  solemn 
mauuer,  that  the   British  regular  force   Was 
double  that  of  the  American*  and  that  the  In- 
dians were  700  in  number.    Lieut,  col.  Boerst- 
ierf  under  a  belief  of  ll^ese  facts,  and  thinking 
it;li|ipraoticable  to  get  off  the  wounded*  whom 
Iii^i|l|ii^  unwilling  to  abandon  to  the  mercy  of  the 
saipies^  and'  deeming  it  extremely  r  ncertaiil 
igl^meen  retreat  could<  be  ei&etfvd*  thought 
proper  ifeif agree  to  term»  of  capitulation,  whiolU 


n 


mSTOBT  4>F  THE  WAIt. 


^were  at'lingth  signed  by  himself  on  the  one 
phrtf  and  by  lieut.  ool.  JU^shop  on  the  olher* 

Capt.  Chapin  makes  (he  following  statement : 
.  ,  ff  The  articles  of  capitulation  were  no  st^oner 
^ned,  than  they -were  violated.  The  Indiani 
immediately  commenced  their  deprcdalionsy  and 
plunderedthe  officers  of  their  side-arms.  The 
soldiers  too  were  stripped  of  every  article  of 
clifithing  to  which  the  savages  took  a  fancy,  such 
as' hats,  coats,  shoes,  &c."  < 

By  the  articles  of  capitulation,  it  was  stipu* 
lated  that  the.  wounded  should  be  taken  good 
care  of,  the  ofilLers  be  permitted  to  retain  their 
side-arms,  private  property  be  respected,  and 
the  militiA  immediately  paroled.  How  charac- 
teristic of  a  savage  and  faithless  «aemy  was 
this  shameful  violation  of  honor  aml^gi^  faith. 

Msyor  Chapin  and  his  corps  wei?^  ■i^ined 
under  guard  at  the  head  of  Lake  Otttti<^  ami 
no  attention  paid  to  the  article  of  capitulation^ 
which  provided  for  their  being  paroled.  On  the 
12th  inst.  they  were  ordered  down  Ihe  IM^e  to 
l^ngston  ;  for  which  place  they  were  embark- 
ed in  |  wo  boats,  accompanied  by  a  giiiird  of  15 
iiien,'iinder  the  command  of  a  lieuteni^t.  Thir^ 
teen  of  the  men,  with  the  lieutcnan^ji  #ere  sta- 
tioned in  the  forward  boat  With  ms^pp  Chapif 
and  the  other  officers,  while  the  remaining  twe» 
(a  seineant  and  one  man)  iook  the  dir<^tion  of 
the  other  b6at,  which  contained  /t}li|^Mddier8«•-^ 
An  agreement  faad  beej^giitered  inlo  previ 
to  their  departure,  of  se^ng  the  firat^ 
nity  that  oiTered  to  regain  their  ItbeiC^; 
they  determined  to  effect  or  dk  in  j^e  atte 
"Wlten  they  vftve  within  abouFiS  niWD$j^irei 
^eboat  which  was  ftUed  with  t^<j{ntiltoBer«# 
was  |*owedliy  theai  along  side  the  oUier^uniiv 


.?!'■ 


'¥^' 


RISTOIIT  OF  Tn«>  WlVk 


fi«» 


pretence  of  taking  something  to  drfaik.  The 
signal  being  given,  they  sprang  upon  the  guaf^y 
'^f  ho  little  expected  such  a  inanceuvre,  and  in  a 
short  time,  disarmed  them,  and  gained  possea-, 
sion  of  the  boats.  They  immediately  altered 
their  course  from  Kingston^to  Fort  Niagara/ 
and  after,  rowing  hard  for  most  of  the  i^g|it, 
and  escaping  miU  difHcuIty  from  one  oft^^cfn* 
emy's  sobooncrsy  which  gave  them  ^alii'lu^- 
rived  in  safety  iivith  their  prisonerfi^  lit  tke 
American  garrison. 

The  following  extract  o^a  private  letter  from 
Fort  (ieorge»  made  its  appearance  in  a  ptitftib 
newspaper  in  the  first  week  in  August.  '  :  ;■  .' 
-  "  A  large  boat  amved  two  days  since  from  LltAe 
York}  containing  one  lieutenant  and  8  of  his  BHt^n- ' 
nic  majesty's  militia,  captured  by  8  of  our  men  (d 
segulars  and  5  militia)  taken  at  Beaver  Dams.  The 
lieutenant  apd  his  party  were  conducting;,  them  to  > 
^ipg^ton— >our  men  rose  on  the  English  ^aiid  brought 
tliem  here.  Another^ boat,  with  14  of  Boprstler*^ 
men,  has  just  come  in  from  York,  brmgiiig  with 
theoL&eir  sentinel  and  one. other  person." 

It  woi^  be  an  unpiirdonable  injustice  to  tfe 
Vr^ve  C^l^lli  not  to  give  his  own  report  ot  this 
Jieroi^  eiilf^.:   The  following  is  a  copy  of  his;; 
letter  to  ^m.  beat  born*  da-led  Fort  George^ 
June  iSth,.  1813.  ,  ,,; 

.  V  Sir— •!  have  just  arrived  from  my  confinement  in 
Canada}  with  m^  men,  without  our  parole.    Our  re^  i 
turn  happened  in  the  toj^wing  manner :  I  received 
orders  at  Burlington  Hwhts  on  Monday  morning  to 

fxkiogston — we  set  On  accordingly  umler  thQ 
€^  a  guard  of  16  nienr  •  |  had  with  me  28  men. . 
arf  wenton  very  quietly  iW  4  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  at  which  time  I  g^ve  a  ttgnal  to  attack;/ 
the'g^ard,  whklh  were  stati.'ined  in  the  fo11o\iil4ngor-^ 
dewa  sergeant  and  one  man  in  the  bo^t  whh  m^ 


ioa 


l|IftT«KT  M  TUB  WAB« 


.y^f^ 


xneit,  a  HciHenant  and  13  men  in  the  boat  with  me 
vnd  two  ofiicers.  At  the  signal  my  men  run  along 
ai$ie  of  the  boat  I  was  in.  Lieut.  Showers  ordered 
them  to  fall  astern.  I  ordered  tliem  on  board— 'SC 
lyhlch  time  the  officer  attempted  to  drayr  his  sword. 
I  seized  him  by  the  neck  and  threw  him  on  his  back 
•^two-  of  iiis  men  drew  their  bayonets  upon  me— ^I 
immfi^iattely  seized  both  bayonets  at  the  same  instM^t 
and  tmw  them  on  the  top  of  the  officer,  and  \^t 
all  d6#n  tbgether  J  at  the  same  moment,  my  naeh 
seizied'  the  gtsard  and  iK^rested  from  them  their  armi' 
—•we  then  having  possession  of  the  arm's,'  changed 
our  course,  and  arriveci  here  this  morning  half  aftef 
two  o'clock),  all  safe.  W«;  have  brought  two  boat's 
with  us. 
,  J  have  the  honor  to  br<  very  respectfully^  yomr 
•ikedtem  servant) 

r  CYRENU3  CHAPIN.**-;, 

Oil  tbe  ll||Jo]yy  250  Britislii  regulars  crosS'^ 
•d  the  Niagarii  belo^  Blaek  Roek,  and  moved 
w  toiirnrds  thai  j^ace.  A  party  of  militia  sta* 
^uoned  there  iled  at  siglrt  of  the  ineinyi  whaiiit« 
ilKiediatcly  se^fire  to  the  block-honsesy  twrraeksy 
4|yflfiked  several  eannoiiy  and  took  a  qumitity 
ofm>iH|  and  salt,  said  to  be  400  barrel*.  While 
engipPlM^  getting  it  off,  they  were  atlMdscd  by 
a  parly  of  rcfgtilar^,  militia  and  Iiidittiis^  wb» 
bad  ooBie  down  from  Buffaloe,  and  wbo^MHired  a 
8«eee«sftil  Hre  into  them,  ^yliieh  killed  and 
iwfKttnded  a  great  mimber.  The  enefny>  hower- 
^^isueitieded  in  getting  offlheir  pUuider,  letiv* 
is^^df  their  men  detra  m  tbeshoi^  JDurl^ 
lliat  1  killed  and  S  wouiiml>  2  dinee  dead. 

On  the  7tb  inst.  the  enemy  attaekc^  a  ^ard 
iioot  a  nMIe  atfd  a  bi^lf  fi*om  Fort  Oeorge,wbefi 
lleat.  Eldridge,  with  39  men,  who  fblunteereij 
tfad«i*  bim,  went  to  relieve  tijiept  f  but  i^g^^, 
zeal  to  exeaute  tkc^  ovder^be  unexpetedly  ISi|p^ 


SHSTOIftT   OF  TSe  WAB» 


i0k 


Kitnwlf  suvronndcil  in  the  wdod  by  Indians,  wiia 
opened  a  deadly  fire  upon  hi^  iUtle  corps,  whioh 
eut  down  18— a  foiv  fled,  and  (he  |*eniaiDd«r 
were  taken  by  the  Indians  and  stript,  sealpedl 
and  mangled  in  a  horrid  manner.  Only  9'  of' 
the  corps  escaped. 

During  the  night  of  the  4th  July,  a  paHjr  of, 
tho  enemy,  codsisting,  according  to  the  fkitiih- 
aooount,  of  4 1  men,  but  Iinown  toexeeed  thnt 
number,, passed  over  in  boats  from  Chipp^ira' 
to  Fori  Schlosser,  which  was  guarded  by  only. 
i'i  men,  wliom  the  enemy  made  prisoners,  to- 
gether with  three  of  the  citizens ;  and  oi^o* 
suoceededin  carrying  off  some  flour,  skit  pork» 
whiskey,  &c.  one  brass  six  poonder,  a  few  stands 
of  arms,  some  ball-cartridgr  ^,  Ho,  with  which; 
they  liastily  retired.  The  enemy  being  rein- 
forced, returneil  on  t1)«  suocecdipg  evening  ta 
complete  I  he  plundering,  whicli  tf  is  hurry  »n^ 
fears  compelled  him  to  leave  Knfinished  (*uriii^ 
Lis  first  vhiir  but  observing  a  giiard>  lie  re*: 
treated  without  attempting. to  landi^         • 

^  A  body  of  the  cne my >  consisting,  of  aboul'!9|p9t 
men,. beside  Indians,  a(,(acked  the  ^pIc^iA  ttt 
Fort  UeOrgcon  the  17tlfc. July,  but  wenHfef^vci* 
ly  repiilgied^.aft€P  a  c^ontest  of  one  hour.  AU^ 
though  this  affair  wa!»  not  otherwise  of  mucb 
nonsequencey  ii  was  in  a  degree  so, Inasmuch. as 
it  gave  a  full  opportunity  of^  testing  jtfie  ooiiliiif^ 
of  the  American  opkiers  eiig^igcff;.  asM|t-w'ii!| 
fought  in  (|eta^QhiHent||  Gen.  3oyd,  in  hkvO^ 
oiai  report, ,  higlily l^tolkd  tlte  actiAcityl.  ma^^ 
l^avery  of  frlidse:engagad. . 

i  A  declaration ^6f  "war,  of  whieh  llie^ollowit|«f 
fs^a  copy,  wag' isteuJi^d  by  the"  Si\  Nations  -'^'f  Nl 
Xork  Indian^  li^'mcdi  iteiy  aftvie  tho'ihirasioii  ^ 


'V^S> 


Ji^^llutish. 


a 


t2 


i#r 


invmr  oi 'Tik  ^im 


'i 


DECLARAT10>^0F  WAH, 

%T  THK  SIX  XATIOMB   01    IMOIAKI. 

We>  the  til^kfs  and'  Councillors  of  the  S^ix  K|^» 
tiobs  of  IndSi^t,  riding  in  Ihe  sute  of  New-York| . 
(fo  ber«b^  ti>^cUdm  to  all  the  War  Chiefs  and  Wkir-^ 
i&ort  of  the  Six  r^ationS)  that  WAR  is  declared  cii 
•uV  jtivty  against  the  Province^  of  Upper  atid  Lower 
Ca^Ada. 

vfJpierefoM,  ire  do  herebf  command  and  ad?iie  alt 
tti  Wsr  Chiefs  to  call  forth  immediati^ly  the  V^am 
lijpt»  vnder  them,  {ind  put  them  in  rootionito  piror» 
UQt  their  rights  and  liberties*  which  our.brethre% 
tfa%  Amedcanst  are  now  defending. 

(8%iMd)  £v  (he  Grand  CgmpUhr** 

^v^M^jjpi^gcneral  Dearborn  had  been  for  some 
time  ill  ft  state  of  ill  heaHh*  On  the  idth  3n)f 
lM);#as  supereeded  in  the  commaDd  of  ^the  army 
•n  the  Niagaifi  frostier ;  and  was  sneeeeded  bgr 
feii»  Bagrd^  the  see^d  in  eommaBd.  On  ihit 
<ieca<ii^ii  the  geiiiffalveeeived^lwt^  ftflbetk>nai6 
.f^drest  ft>om  general  Bf^aiMl  tile  ether  officere 
tervtpg  at  Pert  George.  Ab,  howerer^  the 
aniiejef  the  generaKff  dismlMAl  iprfia  the  ^tvt 
ef  ▼<#^u>  eenjeeturer  the  iMloir||»  exti*ae| 
fiMMaHftie  general  orders  ieandl  on -llg^^ie^ 
^U  give  to  the  reader  all  the  talisiSpBifriaoiir 
|Nl^r  to  oommimieate. 

'^^i^  major-general  e^tmnatid^ti^hi^f^U^  recei?- 
«ii^gilA$^»  from  the  secretari^i^^l^  from 

the  comtnand  of  this  ani»^|a{|^|v  hH  hofilth  al«^  1^ 
fe-estah|ii|ii^».and  im^  jni^r  orderii»>^be^iiMi* 
inand  dcftrfvea  on  brig.  gd!r |k)yd.  Wef!e  thtuula* 
jor-g^i|^ral  perautted  te<coniQlt  hia :f«|a  HBell^ 
H|»  eonsid^liOh  could  induce  bu&^^J^e  i^  lit-* 
lly  tit  iMp  important  crisis  ;  tjut  tto  jpt^^t^  «£^* 
-^*^—  la  jtb  ohef  his  BUperiors.**^v^^i5^    . 


HI8T0HY  OF  TOM  mAUS> 


to$ 


armed  boati»  each  eftirying  a  •  or  8  nouader^ 
and  60  iiieii»  sailed  from  baokett's  KarlHkr  to 
eniiife  in  tht  8t.  Lamemt  I  On  Monday,  the 
19tbf  the^  ftU  in  ivith  a  A;an-boat#  (laT^j^ing  a 
tf  potiod  oarronade,  convo^ac  15  of  the  enemy'a 
hatteauxy  eaptured  then  without  the  lost  of  n 
Biaoy  aad  brotigfat  them  into  Cranbernf  ereek» 
aboflt  49  BiilMr  above  Ogdeniburgh.     The  bat-' 
!«*«>  had  tti»ioard  230  bbler.  poric>360  ba^i  {>i« 
ldt*bread»  wnmunition  ^e.  boondfrom  Montre* 
al  to  Kinmtaiii^    On  Tuesday  moniiD|;  S  of 'Qie 
enemy's  ^n^boais»  with  360  soldiers  Ma.  Pret* 
eoty  arrived  off  the  ereek,  and  htnded  their  men^ 
Thi^  privateersmen  had  hardly  time  to  eonstruct 
a  breast-^work  of  their  hags  of  piloUir^ds  hi* 
Ibre  they  were  attacked  by  200  of  the  enemy  1 
and  strange  to  telly  after  an  obstinate  engage^ 
nent,  in  which  from  40  to^  cf  the  enemy  wert 
killedi  his  force  retreated  precipitately  io  their 
beats,  except  15,  wha  took  t»  the  woods,  and 
^erirt>iHrsiied*.    The  American  loss  wlb#^ln|^ 
Iheu^  ills  not  speeified.    67  British  Jriseaer^. 
ea|»lnred  in  the  batteaox  and  gnn-bolV  ahI^ 
ml  Watertown'on  Tnesday  evening,      '<  ;i' "  ^  ' 
The  employ ment  of  Indians^  theenemjf 
vendered  it  absolutely  necessiifir  t»  attach  the 
friendly  Indians  to^^  the  army  of  the  IT.  Stated. 
On  thk  occasion  there  was  an  opportimity  or 

t roving  that  the  sav^g^  can  abstain  from  those 
arbarotts  acts  which- 4||  enemy  must  liave  eft> 
'oottragedy  or  certaii|||Pwt'  not  attempt  to|Mciii». 
-wot;    ■ 

•    A  body  of  Yotnntciers  and^IhdifUls»JMldercom• 
1Mld^^f  mi^or  Chapin,  had  a  sklrm&^witlb#»^^ 
enemy,  ttiiir  Fort  George,  on  the  irth  Angu|(^ 
in  which  t]^  latter  was  ddlsated  Mrid  compm> 

^i«ti(lid»^  ^We  Ameiifliaililhma  ^a{4viil;lt: 


i04i 


UXSTOItY   OF  TUB  IVAH^ 


^*' 


of  tlie  British  Indians,  and  four  ^vhitc8:  The? 
Indians*  in  a  council  hekl  tvitli  ihcm  previous  4a< 
this  nffttU't  cOvenantx^d  not  to  &caJp  or'  mi^pdi^r.^ 
Their  hravery  iti  battle  was.  as  conKjiictious  a4 
their  hiimanitxtq  (he  vaniiuislicd  ;  no  insult* 
was  oflfcred  even  to  the  dead. 

At  day  break  on  thu  tilth  August,  the  enemy ^' 
with  his  \vIiQ(e  force,  commanded  by  Sir  George* 
Prevost,  di*ove  in  a41  the  American  pieliets  al 
Fort  George.  A  skirmish  ensued  in  the  vil^ 
luge,  with  Tittle  effect,  ^vhen  the  enemy  i*e(li'ed* 
leaving  Id  of  his  p^cn  dead  on  the  field  ;  and  tt 
few  prisoners,  including  a  captain  of  tlve  49tb# 
The  Americans  lost  2  men  killed  and  a  fe\r 
wounded. 

The  pain  of  being  eompellcd  to  relate  the  bar- 
barity of  a  faithless  enemy,  on  almost  every  oe^ 


easion  where  he  hac! 


power, 


is  pleasingly  miti*^ 


gated  hy  the  contrast  which  tlu;  acts  of  Ameri* 
ean  soldiers  and  seamen  produce.  Among  the 
many,  toa  numerous  for  recollection  or  detail^ 
the  follawirtg  will  be  re^d  with  satisi^iction;  ,1< 
On  the  21st  Scplcniher  a  company  of  vohiit* 
feers,  principally  of  the  Tillage  of  Buffaloe,  crtit 
iiai'keu'for  Sugar  Loaf,  (about  14  mih's  from 
Fort  Erie)  tinder  command  of  major  Ghapin^ 
with  an  Ititehtion  to  surprise  and  capture  a  Bii-*^ 
lish  guard,  commanded' by  eoU  Warren^  The 
colonel  had  anticipaleil  the  attattk,  and  had 
withdrawn  himself  and  . guard'  from  the  lake 
^nie  mHes  into  the  intei^i^ref  the  country .-*. 
The  party  took  several  prisoners,  who  were  int- 
jp»edi  at  fly  parol  fed  ;  and;  Si  barrels  of  'floiir  and 
^  bale  orhiankets,,all  of  which,  was  the  pr©pe> 
,ty  of  government.  Thf  ro  were  several  hundre<l 
.Iwrrels  of  flourat  the  mills,  Imi  there  being  njO 
jSTQof  of  its  h«!.ing^  publia  property  sit  i^a^  ji«i  la- 


mSTORT  07  TW^VfMM*^ 


IQi 


keni  The^eonduct  of  major  Cliapin,  io  aH  bis 
incur«io|}9  into  the  enemy's  territory,  has  been 
stHctly  honorable-;  carefully  distinguishing  be-^ 
tween  friendsi  and  enemies ;  justly  disoriminating: 
between  public  and  private  property. 

The  American  fleet»  under  command  of  com- 
modore Chauneeyi  went  out  of  the  inner  har- 
bor of  Saokett's  Harbor^  the  19th  July,  and 
sailed  soon  afterward.  The  fleet  stretched  over 
for  the  enemy's  shore,  and  from  thenee  stood; 
up  the  lake,  and  arrived  olTNiagara,  in  theelNe* 
ning  of  tibe  27th  July.  Commodore  Chauneey 
boinff  informed  that  the  enemy  had  a'consider^- 
hie  &posit  of  provisions  and  stores  at  Burlingtoii 
bay,  had  determined  to  attempt  their  dedtrue* 
tion.  Having  taken  on  board  250  infantryr  tho 
fleet  proceeded  to  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  owv 
iRg  to  light  winds  and  calms,  did  not  arrive  t4> 
an  anchorage  before  the  evening  of  the  ^Qth.^^r 
Two  parties  were  dent  onshore,  who  took  some 
of  the  inhabitants,  from  whom  ikey^Jearned^ 
that  the  enemy  was  lately  relnforeed,  and  that 
he  had  from  600  to  suo  regulars.  The  troops 
were,  however,' landed  the  next  morning,  toge- 
ther with  some  marines  and  sailii^^  but,  on  re<«' 
oonnoitering  the  enemy's  position,  he  was  found 
posted  upon  a  peninsula  of  higll  ground,  strong- 
ly in  trenoht|J>  und  his  eamp  defended  by  about 
S  pieces  J^annon.  It  wai  judged  inexpedient 
to  attack  nim  with  a  foree  scarcely  half  bin 
numbers,  and  withoui  artillery.  The  men 
were  re-embarked,  in  the  course  of  the  after- 
noon ;  and  the  fleet  WPighcd  in  the  evening* 
and  stood  for  York,  in  the  harbor  of  which 
place  it  anchored  about  3  o'clock,  P-  1^*  On. 
the  dlst*  the  schooners  sailed  into  the  tippcp 
hsirbor ;  the  marines  and  sQldlvrSf  undeir.  tht 


106 


UISTOBT   OF  TUB   Vil]^< 


h 


I 


St&t^: 


commam)  of  colonel  Scott«  landed  wHlioni  o]i^ 
position  (upwards  ofiOQ  men  of  the  eneji)^  Jiav- 
ing  left  York  for  the' head  of  the  lake,iwpda^& 

Srevious  to  the  diseniharkation).  Severaljiun- 
red  barrels  of  fl<l'iir  and  provisions  were  found 
in  the  piiblic  store-house  ;  also  5  pieces  of  can- 
nonyli  boats^  and  a  quan(it.y  of  shot>  shells^.' 
and  olht!r  stoi'cs  ;  all  of  which  were  either  de^ 
stroked  or  taken  away-^a  few  prisoners  were 
taken.  The  troops  wei^.  re-embarked  on  the 
d|8i  August?  having  previoutily  burned  the  bur-^ 
racks  and  public  store-houses — the  expedition 
arrived  at  Niagara  on  the  2d, 

On  the  7th  August,  at  day -light,  commodore^ 
ChanncieT  discovered  the  enemy,  consisting  oC 
^ships,  2  brigs,  and  2  large  schooners,  on  L^ake 
Ontario.  H^  immediately  weighed  anchor  and 
manoeuvred  to  gain  (he  wind.  Both  ^els  con<> 
tioued  to  nianceuyre  for  several  hours  it  a  dis-; 
Unce  from  e^^h  biher  of  about  &  or  6  jiiHeSy 
coinmoil<|re  ifchauncey  endeaypririg  in  vain  to 
bring '  tlw'  enemy  to  action.  Toward  night .  it 
became qoite  calnivdnring  whicU  time  the  eam-i 
modoro  endeavored  to.  reach  the  enemy  by 
sweeps,  but  without  success,  'Wind,  during  the^ 
Bight,  was  yett  equally.  At  day-light r  on  tli^ 
StS*  diacovered  fnat  2  of  the  schoonersr  the 
Hantilton  ^lid  Beourge,  mounting  ^ether  19 
guns,  had  f^uhderedi  and  every  soi^Mn  board 
theni,  exeept  16,  perished.  This  accment  gave 
the  enemy  a  decided  advantage,  yet  thecommori 
dore  oftered  him  bjittle,  wHich  was  declined..—.' 
In  the  afternoon  the  wind  fell  away,  and  the 
commodore  again  endeavored  to  reach  the  ene- 
my by,  means  of  his  sweeps,  but  was  again  un- 
suceessful.  During  the  afternoon,  the  enemy, 
taking  advantage  of  a  wind  whieh  sprang  up». 


•;>•-;. 


■«■ 


M 


UUTOAY  09  the  Vfkt, 


ioy 


nhd  broaglit  iiim  io  windward/ endeavored  to 
<;utoJf  the  American  schooners,  but  tliey  were 
'able  tO^eonie  into  their  station, before  he  epuld 
reach  thciii.  Night  coming  on»  and  the  weather^ 
as  on  the  former  night,  squalljr,  the  eonsmo: 
dore,  to  guai'd  against  further  accident^  aa^eli 
as  to  afibrd  some  rest  to  his  men,  who  had  been 
40  hours  at  quarters,  ran  in  toward  Niagara^ 
and  anchored  ouisi«tt:  the  bar.  Here  he  repeiv* 
cd  on  board,  and  distributed  in  different  vesseliit^ 
15(Kmen,  to  aid  in  boarding,  in  ca^e  he  eoiiTtt 
clos'e  with  the  enemy.  * 

SoOn  after  day-ligiit  on  the  9th,  he  dl^coTer- 
cd  the  enemy;  weighed  anehotand  stood  after 
him.  The  winds  were  light  and  variable,  and 
before  noon  quite  calni  ;^.at  5  P.  M.  the  wind 
sprang  up,  pursued  the  probable  course  of  the 
enemy  during  the  night.  In  the  morning  of  tl^ci 
loth,  di^edvered  the  enemy  and  gavehinichas^ 
until  the  wind  chan.^ing  bringing  ibe  e^emy  ih 
windward,  by  which  he  was  again  ei^bled  to 
avoid  an  action.  Both  fteets  continued  manceu- 
vring  until  it,  when  a  firing  commenced  between 
both  fleets.  Tlie  wind  favored  the  enemy  and 
enabled  him  to  effect  one  purpose  of  all  his', 
long  and  cowardly  manceuyrinji^^  by  separatii%.^ 
two  vessels  from  the  ri^malndbr  bf  the  squadrofii 
and  capturing  the  Growler  and  Ju1i%  ^  ^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  lith,  the  coniijpodore'^ 
got  sight  of  the  enemy,  but  he  still  refused  bat- 
tle, notwithstanding  bis  increased  advantage  by^ 
the  capture  of  t2  vessels,   and  a  wind   favoi*ab£o 
to  him.     A  gale  coming  on,  commodore  Chaun-  , 
cey  returneato  Sackett*s  Harbor,  to  obtain  pro- 
visions, of  which,  his  shins  were  nearly  desti- 
tute. 

Oh  the  7th  September^  the  enemy's  squadron 


1G8 


OV  TBS  VA«. 


under  command  of  oaptain  Yeo,  ^&9  discovered 
closf  in  with  the  Niagara  river.  Commodore 
Cha'tthoey's  fleet  immediately  weighed  inehor 
and  prepared  for  action.  The  enemy  sailed  to 
the  northward  ;  the  commodore  in  pursait.— 
The  pursuit  was  continued  aU  around  the  lake 
tmttl  the  morning  of  the  ISth,  when  the  enemj 
succeeded  in  getting  into  Amherst- bay.  Dur- 
ing the  chase,  there  was  a  running  light,  off 
Gfcnessee-river,  which  continued  three  and  a 
balf  hours  :  the  enemy  suffered  much  i  tha  A- 
laerioans  did  not  loose  a  man. 

ComHBiodorfe  Chauncey  continued  to  blockade 
the  enemy  in  Amherst-bay  until  the  17th  Sep* 
teml^r,  when  a  heavy  wind  from  the  westward 
favored  his  escape  into  Kingston  ;  and  the  Ame- 
riean  fleet  returned  (#Saekett's  Harbor.  Af. 
ier  a  few  hours  delay  at  8H<}kett's  Hai^r>  com- 
ip|Odore  Chauncey  sailed  again  foi^'Niagara* 
Vherehe  arrived  on  the  :24tb.  On  tlie'19th  he 
saw  the  enemy  off  the  False  Ducks,  hut  took  no 
notice  of  him,  in  hope  that  he  might  follow 
the  commodore  up  the  lake. 

On  the  26th  September,  cojanmodore  Chaun- 
<}ey  learned  that  the  enemy's  fleet  was  in  York- 
bay  ;  he  prepared  to  weigh  but  was  prevented 
from  getting  ou#of  the  river  before  the  evening 
of  the  27l|i.  On  the  28th  ttio  enemy  was  dis- 
covered under  way  in  York-bay.  I'he  Ameri- 
cans formed  a  line  for  battle,  and  run  down  for 
the  enemy's  centra.  The  enemy  endeavored  to 
avoid  an  action.  At  10  minutes  past  12*  the 
enemy,  in  order  to  save  his  two  Year  vessels, 
ifras  compelled  to  tack  in  succession,  bei^inning 
at  his  van,  when  he  hoisted  his  colors,  and  eom- 
meneed  a  Are  on  commodore  Chauncey's  Ibig- 
ship^  the  General  Pike>  fftr  the:  purpose  of  co- 


•f,- 


|a9TtST  OF.  TH&.Wiak 


lis 


i|0riiig  lus.rear,  and  attacking  the  American 
real*  »9  ^-  passed  to  leeward.  By  a  happgr  ma- 
mq^uife*  oomnoodore  Ch^uaeej;  defeated  this 

Satrt  of  the  adversary's  pfin,  wheA  the  latter 
or^  ,away^     The  Aineriean  ^hip9»>  howeveiv 

iilosedso  near  as  to  bring  their  ^uas  |i^  bear  ; 

.and  in  W  minutes,  the  makiandnuzentop^Blasts 
and  main  yard  of  the  Wolf  was  shot  away.r-r-^ 

tThis  ship  immediately  pat  before  the  wiod  and 
retail,  sail  upon  his  main  mast ;  and»  b^  keeping 

.dea^  before  the,wind«  was  enabled  to  eseape^**-^ 
The  ebase  was  oontinaed  until  near  ^  P.M. 

■  during  M(hich  time  the  commodore's^ip  kept  ^ 
Fithin  point  blank  shot  «f  the  enemy,  and  sua- 
lained  the  whole  of  his  fire,  during  the  ehas4% 
«   At  15  minutes  past  3,  the  eommodore  was 
l>bliged  to  give  up  the  etase  :  bis  ship  was  mak- 

.jng  water  so  fast  that  it  required  all  his  pumps 

.  4:0  keep  her  dear,  and  others  .of  his  vessels  were 
m  ueli  damaged.  The  enemy^s  fleet  was  w it^ia 
ux  miles  of  the  head  of  (he  lake,  wh^'M-e,  owing 
to  the  stiffness  of  the  gale,. both  fleets  might  go 

Hash  ore  at  a  place  in  possession  of  the  s/aeuiy«— * 
The  eommodore,  therefore,  thooglit  protj/er  to 
proei^ed  to  Niagara.  The  General  (Mke  sufei*- 
«d  a  considerable  loss  of  men,  among  whom 
fWere  S^  killed  or  wounded  by  the  bui^tin|*  af  4i 
gtin.  On  the  1st. October,  the  eon^odorif  a^l^ 
ed  again  from  Niagara,  taking  undii^  rOnToy  so- , 
veralboa^s  with  troops  for  Sacketi*»  llai^r. 
Having  convoyed  these  as  far  as  it  ^vas  deemed 
necessary  for  their  safety,  he  left  them  to  pro- 
«eed  eoast^ise  $  and  he  beat  his  course  in  searcU 
of  the  enemy.    -  •  '  . 

On  the  2d  Octoiier,  at  10  A.  M.  the  enemy 
was  discovered  steering  a  courste  for  Niagura. 
Commodore  Ciiauiioey  4>rdered  aehase-^th^ea- 


110 


HXSTOST  or  TBS  WAB* 


m\ 


eiDj  avoided  an  engagement  as  usnalj  and  wa» 
for  aliead  by  siio-ddwn.  On  tl|e  morflinff  of  the 
Sd,  the  enemv  ivai  discovered  at  anchor  dile  in 
vrith  the  land  betwdi  Twelve  and  Twent^inile 
creeks*  hut  made  sail*  on  discovering  the  Aiieri- 
ean  fl^t^  The  chase  continued  a)i  day  :  4he  en- 
em^  jiiild'barely  be  made  <^ut  from  the  mast- 
head b^  sun-dowji.  At  d^^-]%ht,  on  the  ^th* 
heoouldnotbe  seciu..  The  commodorCf  sus- 
peb^ng  tl^ai  the  eneiiiyy  availing  himself  of  a 
very  dark  night,  had  shaped^ his  course  for 
Kingstonf  directed  his  course  for  the  !l^^ks.— • 
A|^^  P.  IE.  the  commodore  discovcre^^^l^i,  sail 
near  tl||»  E'alse  Ducks*  gave  ehasie  $  and  at  4 
o'cIoe^9  discovered  them  to  be  sloops  and  schoon- 
ers* At  5  P.  M.  gained  considerably  on  them* 
wbich  the  enemy  perci|P^ing^  he  took  the  men 
01^  of  a  slow  sailing  gun-boat*  and  then  burned 
he^  4i<>  prevent  her  capture.  At  sun-dowii  when 
opposite  the  Real  Bucks*  the  ilftimilton  (late 
«3row!ei^*€onfiance  (late  Julia)  an4Mary-Anne 
struck  ^neir  colors*  and  were  taken  .possession 
of  TMm  Brummond^oon  pfter  struck  to  the 
^^ti ;  Ind  on  the  following  morning  the  iElylph^ 
"^^k  possession  of  the  Lady  Gore,  But  obe  of 
£|e  enemy's  vessels*  a  small  schooner*  et^aped* 
aiid  slie  owed  her  safety  to  the  darkness  of  the 

^ommod^e  Chauncey  proceeded  to  Saokett^s 
fiarlior  with  his  prizes.  The  captured  vessels 
.Runted  from  1  to  S  guns  each*  and  were  re- 
turning witii  troops  from  the  hi^d  of  the  lake. 
1^  foHowlnff  are  the  number|randl^scription 
of^roops  of  the  enemy  made  prisoners  on  this 
occasion*  viz.  1  m^for*  i  captain*  S  subalterns* 
1  surgeon*  10  sergeants*  4  Summers*  20S  nmk 
and  filei  of  Be  Watteville'i  reghnent  |  1  Uwl" 


iitm^ 


HXITOBT  OV  THX  WAX. 


ill 


tetianiy  %in&8ter*8  matety  35  seamen  and  mtt' 
jrme8),7of  the  royal  naty-f  and  4  saiUfig^matters 
tfjpfprovineial  naty.  The  enemy's  squadron 
irai|^n  going  into  Kingston  th«y  same  evenins. 

irwas  cause  of  mueh  surprise  tliat-  tbe  Bn- 
tisih  wefo  permitted  to  obtain  an  ascendenisy  aft 
^0  actual  Ibrce  on  the  lakH  Champlaiuy  Otitai^^ 
and  Erle^*  if  they  did  not  make  all  the  use  of 
their  numerical  superiorly  which  they  ought  to 
haye  nmdcy  it  must  remain  fbr  tthemseltei  to 
Oi^i^  CommodoM  Too  was  braye  and  an 
exp^isnced  ofiSeer.  !Hi's  apparently ^|owafd1ty 
oondffet  on  Lake  Ontario^  must  hat«  oeen  thi6 
result  of  his  priyate  instructfonsr.  It  ikiustb^ 
eonfbssied  that  this  surmise  is  ill  supported, when 
Oipneoted  with  the  poli<(y  of  the  British  com- 
manifers  on  lakes  Champlain  tmd  Erie.  Ob 
bbriti  these  lakes,  the  enemy  reckoned  on  sueee^i 
as  l^hat  m\ist  certainly  result  fVom  his  supMor 
t'acticsi  supported  by  a  suiierior  force.  He  did 
t0  b|s  titrength  and  tideats  fi|[ainst'tho  Tan- 
kees»  and  with  his  shtpt  il|^inyineilnlityf  hand4 
ed  oyer  to  the  Yankees  idl  the  laurels  whtoh 
w^re;  gleaned  from  ey^ry  othOr  mtyai  power.'— 
Irhe  American  war,  on  the  sea  and  thelakesj,  has 
diigiNteed^  degraded,  and  humbled  the  fiJN)^ 
mistress  of  the  deep,  and  raised  %%  ai^rini^, 
and  noble  minded  American  to  iiha||hl»  u4iSeh 
eyery  nation  in  the  world,  except  BiD^id,  has 
witnessed  with  a  pleasure  or  enthunasiipy  ^at 
speal:s  a*language  to  the  Briton,  n<^l^iailyoeal» 
but  galling,  dreadful,  ominous. 

For  some  time,  the  enemy  a8sumed«»ji^  jn 
fact,  held  the  command  of  Lake  Erie,  'llis 
ieet  was  commanded  by  an  officer  of  experience,, 
who  tauntingly  boasted  of  his  superiority.— 
Cc^mmodo^  Oliter  H.  Perry  was  appdnt^  to 


!!& 


ttnrr«KT  mt  ths-  yfxliu 


f  ftlce  eommand'  of  the  A  Airrivan  fitcU  Tlie  fol* 
Iimmg^xfraet  of  a  letter  from  lifm  to  tlie  sce- 
ipHtry^ihe  navy,  vas  dateil  4tb  Aoga^r  and 
Jinnoitnee^  bia  irtteiKloii  of  i^ceting  the  eii^my. 

^  I  "have  grtat  pleasure  ia  iuforming  yru,  tW  I 
have  aacceeded  in  getting  over  the  bar,  the  U.  S. 
vessels,  the  L.a.wreoce,  Niagara,  C»ledo|»ia,  Ariel^ 
ScorpibB,  Sottientj  Tigress  and  Porcupine.  The 
#94tttiy  have  been  in  :Bmt  all  day,  ahd  are  no\7  aboat 
/^^^iies  frpifi  us.  We  shall  sail  in  pursuit  Of 
l&liiat  3  to-morrow  morning."  *  ^ 

The  following  official  letters  froin  the  com* 
nHMlore  ire  proofs  of  the  modesty,  as  tbefesult 
of  the  engagement  ifirai,  of  the  undaantrd  hero« 
|sm  knte  naval  skill  of  this  great  commander. 

€4pj  of  a  litter  from  Com,  Perry  to  the  Secret 
^  taryqf  the  Jfavy,     . 

II.  S.  brtg  Niagara,  off  tiie  Western 
Sisters,  Head  of  lAke  £rie^  Sept. 
10,  1813,4  P.  M, 
-  Sir-rit  has  pleased  the  Altnlghty  to  give  to  the 
atms  61  the  ITnited  States,  a  signal  actory  over  their 
enemies  en  this  lake.  The  British  squadron,  cott<* 
sitting  of  2  ships,  2  brigs,  I  schooner  and  1  slbbpi 
have  this  moment  surrendered  to  the  force  under 
^j  command,  after  a  sharp  conflict*  X  have  the 
honor  to  be,  8cc. 

MtJ.  H.  FERRY. 
Hon.  W.  lones,  Secretary  of  the  !N"avy.  , 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Com.  Perry  to  tl^e  Secrt* 
tary  of  lhe^%'vy. 

.    V.  S.,8chr.  Ariel,  Put-in -Bay,  18th  Sept,  1813. 

Sir— ^In  my  last  T  informed  you  that  we  bad  Cvip- 
tured  the  enemy's  fleet  on  this  lake.  I  have  r.ov 
tlie.  honor  to  give  you  the  ttio^t  important  partii^i^^Lars 
of  the  action.  On  the  mornmg  of  ihe  ||pth  inst*  at 
tfun^riae,  they  ireve  ^.discever^l)  ^|h»m  Put-ki-Bay> 


■«i!^:. 


tmrOttT  OV  THB  VfAM^ 


lift 


iftmok  I  by  al  inchor  with  the  tqiwdrofi  under  mf, 
commend.  We  got  undev  wty^  the  wind  light  it  ^w, 
W.,  and  etood  £6r  them.  At  10  a.  m.  the  winjl  hank 
•d  toS.  £.  end  brought  vs  to  windward  t>onne4, 
the  \lM  and  bore  up.  At  15  minutes  before  1 3»  the 
enemy  commcnc^c  firing^ ;  at  ft  nunutee  before  19f 
the  action  commenced  on  our  (mrt.  Blndittg  their 
fire  rery  destrucUve,  owing  to  iheir  long  guhitand 
its  being  mostly  directed  a^the  Lawrence,  I  made 
saU,  and  directed  the  othetfilressels  to  follow,  for 
the  purpose  of  doung  with  the  enemy.  %^rf 
briceand  bowline  being  aoon.shot  awayji^ihe.becanie 
unmana|eab)e,  notwithstanding  the  |;reat  «(evti^ 
of  the  sSlin^  master.  In  this  situatien  she  sustain*, 
ed  the  action  upwards  of  two  bomrs,  witl^in  canistev 
distance,  until  every  gun  was  rendertd  useless,  and 
the  g^e^ter  part  of  her  crew  either  killed  or wound« 
ed.'  Finding  she  could  no  longer  annoy  the  enemyi^ 
i  left  her  in  charge  of  lieut.  Yamell,  who,  I  was 
convinced,  frbm  the  bravery  already  displayed  by 
him  j  Would  do  what  would  cq|piport  with  the.  .honou' 
of  the  fl^g.  At  half  past  3,  the  wind  sprmg^ing  up, 
eajpt.  Eliiot  was  enabled  to  brin|;  his  VtssselythiB  Ni- 
agara, gallantly  into  tlose  action  rt'  hninediately 
went  on  board  of  her^  when  he  anticipated  my  wish 
«^y  volunteering  to  bring  the  schooners,  Which  had 
been  kept  astern  by  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  into 
dlose  acttion-  It  was  with  unspeakable  pain,  thatil 
saw,  soon  after  I  got  on  board  the  l^^i^ra,  the  Bt^ 
of  the  Lawrence  come  down,  although  J^  was  per* 
fectly  sensible,  that  she  had  been  deielled  to  the 
last,  and  that  to  have  continued  tomaii:e  a  sMjr  of 
resistance,  would  have  been  a  wanton  skd^pce  <^ 
the  remains  of  her  brave  crew.  AUt  the  cbeiny  was 
not  able  to  take  possession  of  her,  and  circuoistan* 
ees  soon  permitted  her  flag  again  to  be  hoisted.  At 
4ft  minutes  past  3,  the  signal  Was  made  for  ««  cloMi 
netioii#"  The  Niagara  being  very  little  in>ure<}^I 
determined  to  pass  through  the  enemy^s  ]j[ne,  tMciire 
up  ai^  passed  ahliad  of  their  two  ahipsand  a  br^y 


_! 


ii# 


nisfomt  ov  the  Vfit. 


Ifiving^  a  rakhigf  ftre  io  them  from  the  starboiW!  guftt» 
and  to  ft  large  ichooner  and  siopp*  from  the  hrboard 
aide,  ithM  piatol-ahot  di&tacce.  The  tinaller  vei« 
•elfl  at  th»8  time,  having  ^ot  within  grape  and  canis- 
ter disunce,  iiflder  the  direction  pf  capt>  Klliot,  and 
keeping  up  a  veU  dire<;ted  fire,  the  two  ahips,  n 
Ibrig  end  a  schooner,  surrendered,  a  schooi^er  tn4 
sloop  maUng  a  v^  attempt  to  escape.*' 

EaBtraetqf  akttf^^om  Commodore  Vtrr^tr 
t^.S.  schooner  AHel,  Putfin-Bayy^: 
1 3th  September,  1 8 13. 
K  I  also^  heg  your  instructions  respecting  the 
bounded.    I  am  satisfied,  sir,  that  whatever  stepft 
t  ml^hi  take,  governed  by  humanity,  would  meet 
50ttf^iif|irdbation.    Under  this  impression,  1  have 
iaken  ifpon  myself  to  promise  capt.  Barclay,  vrho  U 
tery  dangerously  wdunded,  that  he  shidl  be  landed 
Us  near  Lake  Ontario  as  possible,  and  I  had  no  doijd>t 
you  would  allow  liie  to  parole  him*'* 

The  foilo^Sng  is  die  statement  of  the  rdweo- 
tive  fbrees  iof  tlie  contending  fleets,     's^ '  ^ 
Statemtnt  of  the  foree  of  the  BritisK  Bqmdrom. 
Ship  Betroit  %    19  guns— •!  en  pivot  and 

^'howitzei<§^  V .. 
Queen  Chttrlotte»    ftt  do.     i  clb* 
^8ehr.  Lady  Prev^t       13do»     i  do. 
^leHanter 

Belt 


...as^ 


13  do« 

lOdo. 

S  do. 

^;  Ch^ipewf;  i  d<>,  and  2  swite^ 

'^ "    ■      ■  '■*'  .•'  _     ' 

63gun!t. 
■'   iW!^'--"'tt»ip  Sotipwt  was  a  new  ship,  tery 
fli'^ogly  Mil^^^        moufiled^  long  ^'s,  18's  and 

tSffneem^iit  &f  ih^  jfWce  of  ihe  Wmi 

«|iittcN^»ll. 


<T 


B18T0Bt  OF  TBS  VAK. 


lit 


Brig  Niagiira 

Selir.  Ariel 

Seorpioii 
{Somen 
Sloop  iVippe 
Sohr.  Tlgreie 
F9rcupiiit 


3d  do, 
S  do. 
4  do.  (1  burst  «ftrl^  fa 

action) 
^  do. 

8  do.  and  2  iwlvdii 
1  do. 
i  d*. 

^^*do;. 


5I>  guiig. 

The  losft,  on  the  part  of  the  Amerieans^  waa 
^  follows  r 

KUUd.  Wounded,  T^tdl 


Lawrenee 

^2% 

61 

■'P^ 

Niagara 

% 

S5 

''W^ 

Caledonia 

& 

s 

Somers 

' 

'■■»■■ 

^. 

Ariel      • 

'•    %m- 

« 

^ 

Trippe 

t         t 

i 

Str- 

Scprpioa 

.  ..« 

% 

%•■ 


27 


96 


123 


TwodayspreYioaMo  the  aetio^  57  men  aii« 
fit  for  duty  in  the  small  vessels^ 

W<hili$  giving  the  coitlmodbre's  own  ael*Ottnt^ 
of  this  action,  ve  eiaonot^  omit  his  laelinlet(^tter 
to  general  HarH^on.  It  has  beienr  ^led*  hf  # , 
wi^itei«!t«*  Cesarean  hrevitv.**  Hisatsaaid^  ve^ 
ai, Tidt,  tiei,";htti  Perrj  d^  ttot  eoi^oor  mere.' 
1;^  by  shewlnj^^htmself  to  atf  c(ieBiy  Whirire^ 
ing  on  bis  ^Own  ktiowit  siiperiorHy  #lbre0>  tinil^ 
presiiincid'superiority  fff  taetles,  ealenlatedf  vfWf 
greilt  l$ertaiitty»  on  eon^ne^g  th^Tllitlie68...;iM 
Tbo  battle  wat  bardtfoiight/  todr  ihe  l<ii^  oir 


jii 


m 


HIITOET  OV  THB  WAB. 


<*  Tetti  Viei**  w  as. lie  would  tranilate  Ihe  wordu 
of  tho  Roman  gekioraU-^'  we  met  (he  eiiemy  an4 
4^ey  are  oure  r  but  the  adilition  of"  ?idi*^  nMgH 
»v0r  the  opinion  that  he  won  the  battle  from 
^'timiditv  or  inaotivity  of  the  enemy»  whivh 
would  be  depri?lng  the  brave  Perry  and  hie 
Qtew  of  more  than  half  their'  merit.  ^ 

«  U.  S.  briff  Niaapra,  oft  the  Westtm  Sisttrf 

h<padof  UkeEW^Pt*  JOth,  18I3>  4  P.M. 

M.Dear  General-^Vl^haTe  met  the  ^neihy— uul 

they  are  ours.    Two  thipi,  two  briga,  cmncliooner 

and  one  Bleep.    Yourt,  with  great  reapeet  uid  ea« 

feem,  O.  H.  PERRY.*'' 

JB¥l^erto  we  have  seen  the  enemy  fteatettshif 
to  shtoi  but  now  we  were*  to  witness  them  fleet 
to  flem  I  aqd  a  more  de^siTe  or  ^lendid  ?ieto« 
t^  wa»  neyer  aohieved. '  «  From  the  best  iofor- 
Biati<ni»"  says  the  herole  Perl^  in  a  letter  ta 
flwneral  llarri8on»  **  we  have  m^r«  pHsonera 
tk|A  ire  have  nf en  dhrboard  our  vessiefs.'* 

Compared  with  this,  all  Ibrmer  naval  victo- 
Ties  loose  their  splentTor ;.  even  the  great  Nel- 
tMm>  wer«  he  fl^TOy  must  rank  below  Perry.— « 
Nelson  never  eapturecl  an  entire  fleet ;  Perry^ 
hasy  and  that  wiih  a  fleet  inferior  in  sfae, 
weight  of  metaU  and  number  of  men* 

<  The  British  fleet  was  eommanded  by  eom» 
Barelay*  an  oiBeer  oi  great  merit  and  mueh  love4v 
%y  those  under  his  eommand.  At  a  puUie  dinner, 
givon  to  this  oflleerat  Terrebone,  in  Caiiiday  he. 
apive  a  toaat»  whieh,  while  it  proves  tfle  ean- 
dor  of  the  eomtfiliidore  who  gave  it^  is  an  Indls' 
f utabhs  iHrobfiif  the  merit  of  tim  whose  mm»^ 
m%9  the  sttl^eet  of  it  The  toast  was  hi  t|^  j|l«v 
lowing  words  i.  **  Commodore  P^riyf  t|>e  ffSk-^. 
lant  and  gefierous  enemy.''  , 

fkKMi  allteir  the  vietory  on  like  itfik,  ilm 


mSTART  01  TRX  WAB». 


Air 


Presiilont  of  the  Vt^itA  Statef  appoio(c4  Oliver 
H.  Perry  to  the  rai^  of  captain  in  the  naY.T. 

The  commodore  was  preiented  with  thefk'Cf* 
flom'  of  the  cities  of  K^w-Yorl(  and  Albany; 

The  thanlit  of  congress  ifere  roted  to  tbo 
coromodorcy  his  ofRcers»  seamen  and  mnrinrs  j 
and  medals  were  presented  to  liim  and  his  oIRr 
cers. 

The  thanks  of  this  Semite  of  Pennsylvania^ 
with  medals*  mere  alsovot0d  to  the«oommodoni 
and  those  brave  men  who  served  under  Wm.'  - 
-  Amonff  the  many  testimonials  of  the  |;H|ilr 
^udo  of  lii^  feilow-eitizenfr»  too  numerous  to  "dO^ 
tail»  the  folloiving  particulars  of  a  present  (W»m 
the  citizens  of  Boston,  deserves  to  be  enuoiierKt* 
ecif  viz«  '*. 

«  A  ^afprr— ^f  an  oblbng  square  ihapet  93  inoh^ 
tpn^  bf  16  1-3  wide,  with  a  bright  gad  roon  edge. 
>   <'  Two  Ice  Pailtf  or  decanter  cooler**  barrel  shap^ 
l^ooped  round  vrith  a  bright  gadrbon  edge  ^  top 
and  bottom.  ?: 

<(  Two  PUcher9\  of  a  large  siee,  Chinese  shapi^ 
with  tops  aiid  bright  gadroOns  at  top^nd  bottom*^  . 

<<  Two  dosen  Tumblert,  plain  barrel  shape,  4f\^ 
ipadroons  at  bottom. 

<(  tVine  Glaati  cooler $y  each  to  hold  a  dozen  glaik* 
ttes,  oblong  square  shiipe  standing  on  feet  with  balla 
ornamented  with  a  bright  gadroon  at  bottom  &n4 
narrow  rim  at  top,  impressed  with  an  oak  leaf. 

«*  A  Coffee  Pot^  Tea  Pot^  Sugar  Ba9on,  Cream 
£vfer.  Tea  Cady  and  Slofi  \^o«f^all  of  oblong 
shapeS)^  standing  on  feet  with  balfi  at  the  cornersi 
ornamented  with  deep  borders,  impressed  with  ro* 
ses  and  leaves,  and  with  bright  gadroons  at  top  an^ 
bottom,  r 
•  The  liarge  pieces  bear  the  followinop 'nscr'p'ion* 

-  "SEPTEMBFR  10,  18  IS,' 

^^ttli^dipur/Sr9r  $riuin^h  in  4gfiiidr9rh^^  yerf 


ii$ 


BISTOKT  OT  THE  WIV. 


%ufitrior  British  f or ee^on  Lake  Erie^ 

was  entirely  subdued  by 

COM.    O.   H.    PERRY; 

Whose  gallantry  in  action  is  equalled  only  by  pt4 

humanity  in  victory^ 

PRESENTED 

In  honor  qf  the  Victor^  by  the  CITIZEJVS  OJ^'^t 

BOSTOM"  ** 

> 

*  This  event  was  soon  followed  by  the  capture 
of  Malden«  and  Detroit,  which '  were  entered^ 
without  opposition,  by  gen.  Harrison,  the  23d 
September.  Gen.  Proctor  retreated  to  Sand- 
wich with  his  regular  troops  and  Indians,  hay- 
ing previously  burned  the  fort,  navy-yard,  barr 
raoks,  and  publie  stores — ^the  two  latter  were 
very  extensive,  covering  several  acres  of  groundi 
It  has  been  remarked  in  the  early  part  of  thito 
history,  that,  previous. to  the  surrender  of  De* 
troit  to  the  enemy,  the  Indians,  with  the  ex- 
oeptlon  of  a  few  who  had  joiued  the  enemy,  re- 
umined  inactive,  watching,  with  their  usual  sa- 
gacity, until  they  could  discover  on  wliat  side 
yi^ory  was  Hkely  to  perch.  True  to  their  owii 
insidious  and  cowardly  policy,  they  went  oVer 
to  the  victorious  Britons,  but  no  sooner  was  the 
eflbct  of  treason  wiped  off  by  the  courage  of  pa- 
triots, than  the  savage  withdrew  frouT  his  em- 
ployers, and  sought  peace  from  those  against 
whom  he  had  so  long  raised  the  tomahawk. — 
By  an  olQicial  letter,  written  by  gen.  M*  Arthur 
lo  the  secretary  of  war,  and  dated  at  Detroit, 
subsequent  to  the  retreat  of  the  British,  it  ap- 
pears that  five  nations  of  Indians,  viz.  the  Otta- 
was,  Ghippeways,  Pattewattemies,  IVIiamics 
and  Kickapoos,  have  sued  for  peace.  By  a:.^  a- 
greement  entered  into  between  them  and  gen. 
M< Arthur,  on  the  part  of  the  Vnited  States^ 


<*  th 

mah 

and 

thel 

'  Ai 

gen. 

(Hai 

suffic 

the  r 

es. 

Amei 

dilige 

Thef 

about 

(Kent 

voluni 

^vhole 

thepu 

vation 

days  u 

the  inf 

ble  qui 

suit,  1 

more  ( 

kets  ta 

pitulat 

their  c 

and  sh( 

tctaux  1 

fell  ]nt< 

destruc 

treating 

of  the 

eor»g  ^. 

Thamci 

bersji  to 

theiirri 


HISTORY  OB  TBE  WAR. 


119 


«'  tbey  have  agreed  to  take  hold  of  the  same  to- 
mahawk with  US,  (the  people  of  th^  U.  States) 
and  to  strike  all  who  are,  or  may  be,  enemies  to 
the  UDited  States,  whether  British  or  Indians." 
'  After  the  evacuation  of  Maiden  by  the  enemy^ 
gen.  Hat'rison  pursued  the  British^  although  he 
(Harrison)  had  vei'y  few  horses,  «<  scarcely  a 
sufficiency  to  mount  Uie  general  officers,"  whilst 
the  retreating  enemy  had  upward  of  1000  hors* 
es.  Notwithstanding  this  disadvantage,  the 
Americans  pursued  their  olyect  with  so  much 
diligence,  that  they  came  up  with  the  enemy. 
The  force,  destined  for  this  service,  consisted  of 
about  140  regulars,  Johnson's  mounted  regiment 
(Kentuckians)  and  such  of  governor  Shelby's 
volunteers  as  were  fit  fo%  a  rapid  march  ;  the 
whole  amounting  to  about  3,500  men;  During 
the  pursuit,  which  was  attended  with  sevei'e  pri~ 
vations,  the  whole  army  subsisting  for  several 
days  upon  fresh  beef  without  bread  or  salt,  and 
the  infantry  being  without  tents  ;  a  considera-- 
ble  quantity  of  arms  were  taken  during  the  pur- 
suit, being  deserted  by  the  cnenjf  and  mucli 
more  destroyed ;  these  consisted  chiefly  of  mus- 
kets taken,  or  rather,  given  to  them  by  the  ca- 
pitulation of  Detroit ;  two  24  pounders  with 
their  carriages,  besides  a  large  quantity  of  balls 
and  shells,  and  two  gun-boats,  and  several  bat- 
tcj^ux  loaded  with  provisions  and  ammunition^ 
fell  into  the  hands  of  general  Harrison.  The 
destruction  of  these  were  attempted  by  the  re- 
treating enemy,  but  were  saved  by  the  activity 
of  the  pursuers.  Near  a  place  crJled  McGre- 
gor's Mills,  on  one  of  the  branches  of  the  piver 
Thames,  the  Indians  were  placed  in  great  nuin- 
berS|  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  river.  Upoa 
the  arrival  of  (he  American  advanced  guard,  a 


i2e 


HISTOBT  OV  THE   WA|I. 


heavy  kre  was  commenced  on  it  by  the  Indians^' 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  General  Har- 
rison, expecting  the  attack  would  be  supported 
by  the  whole  Ibrce  of  the  enemy)  drew  up  his 
entire  army  in  order  of  battle,  and  brought  up 
two  ti  pounders  to  cover  a  party  which  w^as  or- 
dered lo  repair  a  bridge,  partially  destroyed  by 
the  Indians.  The  Indiani^  as  usual,  when  not 
early  successful,  fled,  after  suffering  a  consid- 
erable loss.  The  American  loss  was  Skilled 
and  3  or  4  wounded. 

On  the  5th  October,  general  Harrison  came 
up  with  the  enemy  ;  the  result  cannot  be  given 
more  satisfactorily  than  will  bei  found  in  the 
foUo,wing  extract  from  his  letter  to  the  s,ecre<» 
tary  of  war.  •  ' 

M  From  the  place  where '<>ur  army  was  last  halted 
to  the  Moravian  towns,  a  distance  of  about  three 
and  a  half  miles^  the  road  passes  through  a  bet  ch 
forest,  without  any  clearing,  and  for  the  first  tw«> 
.miles  near  to  the  bank  of  the  river.  At  from  two 
to  three  hundred  yards  from  the  river,  a  swamp  ex- 
tends parallel  to  it,  throughout  the  whole  distance; 
The  intermediate  ground  is  dry,  and  although  the 
trees  are  tolerably  thick,  it  is  in  many  places  clear 
«(  underbrush.  Across  this  strip  of  land,  its  left 
m/ifiayed  upon  the  river,  supported  by  artillery  plac- 
ed in  the  wood,  their  .right  in  the  swamp  covered 
by  the  whole  of  their  Indian  force,  the  British 
troops  were  drawn  up. 

The  troops  at  my  disposal  consisted  of  about  120 
regulars  of  the  27th  regiment,  five  brigades  of  Ken- 
tucky volunteer  militia  infantry,  under  his  excelien- 
oy  governor  Shelby,  a vei aging  less  than  five  hun- 
dred men,  and  col.  Johnson's  regiment  of  mounted 
infantry,  making  in  the  whole  an  aggregate  some- 
thing above  3,000.  No  disposition  of  an  army  op« 
posed  to  an  lAdian  force  can  be  safe  imless  it  is  se- 


l^StORT  OF  THE  WAl^ 


I2i 


if- 

ted 
his 
up 
or- 
Iby 
not 
sid- 
iied 

ame 

iven 

tlie 

lalted 
three 
beech 
t  two 
niwo 
ipex- 
lance; 
h  the 
clear 
s  left 
plac- 
ivered 
Jritish 


cjured  on  th6  flanks  and  in  the  rear*  I  had,  there- 
fore, no  difficulty  in  arranging  the  infantry  confor- 
mably to  my  general  order  of  battle.  Gen.  Trot- 
ter's brigade  of  500  men  forni^d  the  front  line,  his 
right  upoh  the  road,  and  his  left  upon  the  swamp. 
Gen.  KiAfg's  brigade,  as  a  second  line,  150  yards  m 
the  rear  of  Trotter's  and  Chiles's  brigade,  as  a  corps 
of  reserve,  in  the  rear  of  it.  These  three  brigades 
formed  the  command  of  maj.  gen.  Henry ;  the  whole 
of  gen.  De'sha's  division,  con^sting  of  two  brigades, 
irere  formed  en  fiotence  upon  the  left  of  Trotter. 

While  I  was  engaged  in  forming  the  infantrv,  I 
had  directed  col.  Johnson's  regiment,  ivhichlpras 
still  in  front,  to  be  formed  in  two  lines  Oppostte  to 
the  enemy,  aud,  upon  the  advance  of  th6  inp^y, 
to  take  ground  to  the  left,  and  forming  upflTn  that 
flank,  to  endeavor  to  turn  the  right  of  the  Indians. 
A  moment's  reflection,  however,  convinced  me,  that 
from  the  thickness  of  the  woods,  and  swampiness  of 
the  ground,  they  would  be  unable  to  do  any  thing  on 
horseback,  and  there  was  no  time  to  dismount  them 
and  place  their  horses  in  security ;  I,  therefore,  de- 
termined to  refuse  my  left  to  the  Indians,  s^nd  to 
break  the  British  lines  at  once  by  a  charge  of  the 
mounted  infantry ;  the  measure  was  not  sanctioned 
by  any  thing  that  I  had  seen  or  heard  of,  but  I  was 
fully  convinced,  that  it  would  succeed.  The  Ame- 
rican backwoodsmen  ride  better  in  the  woods  than 
any  other  people.  A  musket  or  rifle  is  no  impedi- 
ment to  them,  being  accustomed  to  carry  them  on 
horseback  from  their  earliest  youth.  I  was  per* 
suaded,  too,  that  the  enemy  Would  be  quite  unpre* 
pared  for  the  shock,  and  that  t!iey  could  not  resist 
it.  Conformably  to  this  idea,  I  directed  the  regi- 
ment to  be  drawn  up  in  close  column,  with  its  right 
at  the  distance  of  fifty  yards  from  the  road,  (that  it 
might  be  in  some  measure  protected  by  the  treed 
from  the  artillery,)  its  left  upon  the  swamp,  and  to 
charge  at  full  speed  as  soon  as  the  enemy  delivered 
their  fire.    The  few  regular  troops  of  the  Sfth  re- 


122 


ItlSTORT  07  THE  WAX. 


giment,  under  their  colonel,  (Paul,)  occupied,  in  co- 
lumn of  sections  of  four,  the  small  space  between 
the  road  and  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  seizing 
the  enemy^ft  arlil!ery;%nd  some  ten  or  twelve  friend- 
ly  Indians  were  directed  to  move  under  the  bank. 
The  crotchet  formed  by  the  frout  line  and  Geueral 
Desha's  division  was  an  important  point.  At  that 
place,  the  venerable  governor  of  Kentucky  was 
posted,  who,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six,  preserves  all 
the  vigor  of  youth,  the  ardent  zeal  which  distinguish- 
ed him  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  the  undaunted 
br^ry  which  he  manifested  at  King's  Mountain.-p> 
j  Wl|kiDy  aids-de-camp,  the  acting  assistant  adj.  gen. 
capMn  Butler,  my  gallant  friend«com.  Perry,  who 
did  iQf  the  hooor  to  serve  as  my  volunteer  aid-de- 
camipf  .^nd  brig,  gen-  Cass,  who  having  no  command» 
tendered,  me  bis  assistance,  I  placed  myself  at  the 
head  of  the  front  line  of  infantry,  to  direct  the 
movements  of  the  cavalry,  and  give  them  the  neces- 
sary support.  The  army  had  moved,  on  in  this  or- 
der but  a  short  distance,  when  the  mounted  men 
received  the  fire  of  the  British  line,  and  were  or- 
dered to  charge  ;  the  horses  in  the  front  oif  the  co- 
lumn recoiled  from  the  fire  ;  another  was  given  by 
the  enemy,  and  our  column,  at  length  getting  in  mo- 
tion, broke  through  the  enemy  with  irresistible  force. 
In  one  minute,  the  contest  in  front  was  over  ;  the 
Briti&h  officers,  seeing  no  hopes  of  reducing  their 
disordered  ranks  to  order»  and  our  mounted  men 
wheeling  upon  them,  and  pouring  in  a  destructive 
fire,  immediately  surrendered.  It  is  certain  that  S 
only  of  our  troops  were  wounded  in  this  charge  — - 
Upon  the  left,  however,  the  contest  was  more  severe 
with  the  Indians.  Col.  Johnson,  who  commanded 
on  that  fiank  of  his  regiment,  received  a  most  gal- 
ling fire  from  them,  which  was  returned  with  great 
effect.  The  Indians,  still  further  to  the  right,  ad- 
vanced, and  fell  in  with  our  front  line  of  infantry, 
near  its  junction  with  Desha*s  division,  and,  for  a 
inoxnent;  made  an  impression  on  it.     His  excellen- 


BISTORT  OT  THE  VAB4 


123 


cy  governor  Shelby,  however,  brought  up  a  i*egl* 
Bient  to  its  support,  and  the  enemy,  receiving  a  se« 
vere  fire  in  front,  and  a  part  of  Johnson's  regiment 
having  gained  their  rear,  retreated  -with  precipita- 
lion."  •  s* 

'  The  active  Indian  Chief  Tecumseh,  after 
9vinciH^  great  resolutions  and  continuing  to 
fight  silthough  being  badly  woundedyfell^  while  di- 
recting a  deadly  aim  at  col.  JohDson>  The  in- 
vincible courage  of  the  colonel,  and  his  great 
presence  of  mind,  saved  his  own  valuable  life^ 
and  put  an  end  to  that  of  an  irreconcileable  foe. 
While  the  sanguinary  TeeuUiseh  was  aiming  at 
the  colonel,  the  latiei,  although  wounded  and 
much  exhausted^  discharged  his  pistol  with 
great  coolness,  and  brought  the  ferocious  sa- 
vage to  the  earth,  where  he  was  found  dead. — 
The  American  loss  amounted  to  7  killed  and  22 
wounded  ;  the  British  loss  was  12  killed^  22 
wounded,  and  601  regulars  taken  prisoners.— 
The  Indians,  from  the  best  infbrmation,  suffer- 
ed severely,  33  of  them  were  found  dead  on  the 
field.  Six  brass  pieces  of  artillery,  and  two 
iron  24  pounders,  and  a  large  quantity  of  small 
arms,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors.  Every 
American  will  be  pleased,  to  learn,  that  among 
the  field- pieces,  were  three,  which  were  taken 
from  the  British  during  the  revolutionary  war* 
and  lately  surrendered  to  the  enemy  by  general 
Hull.  Major-general  Proctor,  who  command- 
ed the  enemy's  forces,  escaped  with  difiiculiyy 
accompanien  by  about  50  persons,  consisting 
©hiefly  of  officers  of  the  army. 

After  this  total  defeat  of  the  enemy,  the  mi- 
litia were  discharged,  and  gen.  Harrison,  witii 
his  disposable  regular  force,  accompanied  by 
com.  Perry,  arrived  at  Presijue-islei  on  the  HSd 


i24 


PISTOBT  OS  TUB  WAS. 


iMQlieVfJtvom  Detroit  j  from  whence  he  sailefl 
for  6laek  Roeky  with  a  view  to  co-operate  with 
the  armj  there  or  at  ^aokett's  Harbor.  By 
this  exeursioiiy  he^  in  the  short  space  of  less 
than  a  month,  recoyered  the  territory  of  Michi- 
gan, piinished,  and  forced  into  peace,  the  nume- 
rous hoi^les  of  savages,  captured  a  British  re* 
gular  army,  brought  security  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  north  Wicstem  frontier  of  the  United 
States,  and  marched  triumphantly  through  a 
great  portion  of  the  Upper  Province  of  Canada. 

The  instances  of  successful  bravery,  which 
had  hitherto  been  frequent,  were^  in  a  manner^ 
eclipsed  by  the  foUowmg  :    ^ 

Major  George  Croghan,  in  the  22d  year  of 
his  age,  was  left,  by  gen.  Harrison,  iu'con^mand 
of  160  men,  and  with  one  six-pounder,  at  Fort 
Stephenson  (LoWer  Sandusky.) 

In  the  course  of  two  weeks,  there  had  been 
1^  fewer  than  ten  rencounter*;  in  oneof  whicbf 
the  enemy  carried  a  block-house  at  Fort  Madi- 
son, on  the  10th  July,  from  which  they  attack- 
ed the  ft^t,  but  without  success.  Four  men 
were  butchered  in  the  block-house. 

it  wouldappear,  that  it  was  gen.  Harrison's  in- 
tention, not  to  expose  the  small  force  at  Fort 
Stephenson,  to  be  cut  off,  by  an  enemy  very  su- 
perior in  numbers  ;  and  the  major  was,  for  a 
short  time,  superceded  in  the  command,  in  con- 
sequence of  disobeying  an  order  to  burn  and 
evacuate  the  fort ;  but,  on  his  arrival  at  head- 
quarters of  the  general,  he  gave  such  satisfac- 
tory evidence  of  his  ability  to  maintain  the  post, 
that  he  was  immediately  sent  back,  with  direc- 
tions to  resume  the  command. 

On  the  evening  of  the  1st  August,  the  British 
and  Indians,  who  had  come  up  the  Sandusky 


BlBfOKT  aF  THE  WJtttr 


i^ 


river,  from  the  bay,  commenoed  from  their 
boats  a  heavy  cannonading  upon  the  fort.,  and 
threw  in  a  great  number  of  shells  from  their  , 
bomb  batteries.  I'he  enemy  continued  his  op- 
erations without  success  until  the  evening  of 
the  2d^  when,  after  throwing  a  great  numbi?r  of 
balls  from  a  six-pounder*  at  the  northwest  an- 
gle of  the  fort,  for  the  purpose  of  making  a 
breach,  a  column,  under  command  of  lieutenant- 
colonel  Short,  advanced  to  the  point  on  which 
the  artillery  had  been  played,  with  intention  of 
storming,  but  the  judicious  management  of  ma- 
jor Croghan,  foiled  the  enemy  in  his  attempt. 
The  ditch,  which  surrounded  the  works,  waS' 
about  eight  feet  wide,  and  of  ecj^ual  di^pth — this 
the  enemy  had  to  enter  before  they  eould  ap- 
proach the  pickets  :  (through  the  top  of  each 
a  bayonet  was  driven  in  a  horizontal  direiBtionY 
while  in  thi^  situation,  the  six-pounder,  which 
was  masked  in  a  block- house,  and  a  ravine  ad» 
jacent,  poured  upon  the  storming  column  a 
tremendous  shower  of  musket-balls,  wMch  did 
terrible  execution,  and  so  confounded  the  as- 
sailants, that  lieut.  colonel  Short,  who  had  pre- 
viously oi'dered  his  men  to  **-  scale  the  pickets, 
ard  show  the  damned  Yankee  rascals  no  quar-^ 
ters,*'  exhibited  a  white  handkerchifjf  as  a  bi<5- 
nalof  distress,  evincing  his  disposition  to  have 
quarters  given  him,  after  he  had  proclaimed 
that  the  garrison  sliould  he  massacred.  It  was, 
however,  too  late — the  next  dischar&;e  proved 
futal—he  fell— and  lieut.  Gordon  of  the  20th 
regiment,  died  by  bis  side.  1'his  was  near  two 
hours  before  sun-set.  The  firing  from  the 
block-house  was  principally  directed  at  the  en- 
emy who  had  taken  fcfuge  in  the  direction  of" 
the  ravine— the  slaughter  there  was  immiense^ 

12-    • 


i20 


UlSTOEY   OF  TUB   IVAB, 


«n(\gdn.  Proclor^  who  commanded  in  yevsonf 
ordered  the  allied  encui;^  to  retreat  to  their 
hoats.  'I'hc  greater  part  of  tlio  night  was  oc- 
iiupied  in  currying  off  the  dead  and  >vounded--p> 
from  the  Runiber  of  trails  discovered  in  the 
f«rass,  it  is  evident  that  not  less  than  50  of  th« 
iiead  were  dragged  away.  About  50  killed,  in<# 
chiding  the  two  officers  mentioned  above»  Hirers 
IV^ft  in  the  ditch  and  ravine — and  30  prisoners, 
1$  severely  wounded,  which  gen.  Proctor*  in  his 
hurry,  left  beliind,  were  afterwards  brought  in* 
to  the  fort.  It  is  a  fact,  worthy  of  observation, 
that  not  one  Indian  was  found  among  the  dead, 
although  it  is  known  that  from  3  to  400  were 
present,  under  the  c(  lebrated  captain  Elliot*-. 
Thd  humber  of  British  regulars  was  490^  froui 
the  49th  regiment.  Major  CroghaQ  had  but 
1  man  killed,  and  T  slightly  wounded. 

The  British  loss,  by  their  own  confession, 
amounted  to  91,  exclusive  of  Indians.  Thero 
was,  however,  sufficient  evidence  to  justify  the 
belief,  that  it  was  considerably  more. 

When  colonel  Elliot  demanded  the  surrender 
of  the  fort,  he  stated,  that,  unless  his  demand 
was  promptly  acceded  to,  a  general  -  massacre 
would  ensue.  And  when  colonel  Short,  who 
commanded  the  British  regulars,  destined  to 
storm  the  fort,  had  formed  his  troops  in  a  line 
parallel  with  the  ditch,  he  ordered  them,  in  the 
hearing  of  our  men,  to  leap  the  ditch,  cut  down 
<he  pickets,  and  give  t^e  Americans  no  quar^ 
^r.  This  barbarous  order,  which  none  but  a 
HHvage  could  give,  was  not,  however,  permitted 
to  go  unpunished  ;  for  the  words  were  hardly 
out  of  the  mouth  of  the  British  commander, 
when  tlie  retributive  justice  of  Providence  ar- 
rested him  ;  and  the  wreteh  was  obliged  to  suie 


HISTOBT  OF  THE  VAR. 


%%7 


ibr  that  mercy  which  he  had  determined  not  to 
extend  to  others.  It  may  be  observed  here^  in 
honor  of  the  character  of  the  American  sol- 
diersy  that  although  their  little  band  were  well 
aware  of  the  fate  which  the  enemy  had  prepar-^ 
ed  for  them,  yet,  they  weve  no  sooner  subdued^ 
than  the  Americans  forgot  the  crimes  of  the  en- 
emy in  their  sufferings  ;  and  tlie  wounded  in  tht 
ditchi  whose  groans  and  constant  tails  for  water^ 
were  heard  by  the  men  in  the  fort,  were  supplied 
with  that  necessary  artiekfon  the  night  succeeding 
the  dlseomfltuire  of  the  enemy,  hy  the  generosity  (^ 
the  Americans,  who,  with  considerable  hajcardt 
ventured  to  risk  timr  lives  in  order  to  aUeviate 
the  sufferings  of  the  very  men  wlio  hadplMtte^ 
their  wntire  destruction. 

The  brevet  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel  haa 
heen  conferriid  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  on  major  Croehan. 

The  ladies  of  Chillieothe  have  presiBnted  him 
Tirith  a  sword  and  a  flattering  address. 

On  the  3d  of  June,  a  detachment  of  the  ene- 
my*  with  a  number  of  gun-boats,  frdlii  Isle- 
Aux-Noix,  succeeded  in  capturing  the  U.  £L 
armed  yessels  Growler  and  £agle«  on  Lake 
Champlain,  after  a  well  contested  defence  by 
the  brave  crews  of  these  vessels, ijagainst  a  very 
superior  force.  The  consequence  was,  that  th« 
enemy  gained  a  very  decided  superiority  on  the 
lake. 

The  enemy  reckoned  on  success  in  his  fUturc 
•Iterations  in  this  quarter,  not  only  fism  his 
own  superior  force,  but  also,  the  unprepared 
state  of  the  Americans.  Com.  Macdonough 
had  not  a  sufficient  number  of  seamen  to  man 
his  sloops,  and  would  be  highly  reprehensible 
Md  he  been  defeated  ia  an  attempt  to  reeover 


f2B 


HI8T0BT  07  THE  WTXm 


the  ascendency  on  the  lake«  There  were  n« 
troops  stationed  at  Plattsburgh.  While  things 
were  thus  situated^  the  British  flotilla,  consist- 
ing of  2  sloops  of  ymr,  (the  Eagle  and  Growler^ 
lately  eaptured)  S  gun-boats,  and  44b  batteaux^ 
loaded  \»ifh  troops,  sailors  and  marines,  about 
14Q0  in  all,  under  the  command  of  col.  ]llurray» 
crossed  the  line  at  Champrain,  on  the  SOth  Jn^^ 
ly,  and  entered  Plattsburgh  on  the  follo\iing 
day. 

On  the  first  information  of  the  approach  of 
the  enemy,  gen.  Moocrs  gave  orders  for  canine 
out  the  militia  ;  and  when  the  enemy  arrived* 
About  300  from  Plattsburgh  and  the  neighbor- 
ing towns  had  coHected,  who  retired  back  a  few 
miles^  where  they  were  joined  by  the  residue 
of  the  regiment,  from  the  county  of  Essex, 

Although  the  ofScers  who  had'Hhe  command 
•f  the  expedition*,  assured  the  civil  authority  of 
the  Tillage,  tliat  private  property  should  be  re- 
spected, and  that  citizens  not  in  arms,  should 
pemain  unmolestt^d — ^yet  these  promises  were  no 
sooner  made  than  violated  ;  the  enemy,  not  sat- 
isfied with  destroying  the  public  buildings,  such 
as  the  block-house,  arsenal,  armory,  hospital^ 
and  military  cantonments,  wantonly  burned  two; 
storehouses,  b(*fonging  to  Peter  SailJy,  esq, 
nnd  one  belonjafing  to  major  N.  Z.  Piatt — took, 
and  carried  off  several  thousand  dollars  woi'ih 
of  hardware  belonging  to  Frothinham,  k  Co* 
of  Boston,  which  had  been  stored  with  Mr, 
Sailly.  The  destruction  of  private  property 
was  not  limited  to  such  as  they  could  eat,  drink 
an*!  carry  away,  but  furniture,  which  could  not 
he  of  anv  use  to  the  plundierrrs,  was  wantonly 
destroyed — ^tables,  bureaiis,  clocks,  desks,  cup- 
l^oaiHls^  and  crockery,  were  cut  and  brek«ji  19 


RI8T0RT  OF  THB  WAB« 


12f 


pieces,  and  thrown  about  the  houses— books  and 
writings  wore  torn  to  pieces,  and  scattered  about 
the  streets. 

The  various  excesses  of  the  enemy/  during 
their  short  visit  to  Plattsburgh,  are  described 
by  several  respectable  authorities^  to  be  enor- 
mous»  cruel,  and  wanton,  in  a  high  degree.-— 
«  Well  was  it/'  says  one  of  the  witnesses  of  tho 
scene,  **  for  our  wives,  sisters,  and  daughters, 
that  they  remembered  the  excesses  at  H|imptbn# 
and  trusted  not  their  persons  to  the  mercy  of 
Uie  invaders.'' 

..  On  Sunday,  the  faithless  ruffians^  the  nnprin- 
•ipled  invaders,  re-embarked,  and  stood  out  of 
the  bay.  They  took  a  Durham .  boat,  loaded 
with  flour,  and  8  sloops,  one  of  which  they 
burned. 

On  their  return  to  Point-au-Boeiie,  the  crew 
of  one  of  the  boats  landed,  and  part  went  to  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Williams  ;  .they  found  his  wifb 
out  of  the  house  ;  two  of  them  wvnt  in,  to  keep 
the  husband  in  cheek,  while  the  third  attempt- 
ed to  gratify  his  brutal  desires  upon  her.  Her 
husband,  hearing  her  screams,  came  to  her  as-^ 
sistance,  and  in  the  struggle,  the  woman  dis* 
charged  the  villain's  gun,  disengaged  the  bayo- 
net therefrom,  which  she  stuck  twice  iiito  his 
own  back,  and  wounded  him  pretty  severely  ; 
the  Ather  two  fled,  and  Mr.  Williams  and  his 
wife  bound  the  rascal,  and  sent  him  in ;  the  in- 
habitants on  Point-au- Roche,  took  the  skiff  in 
which  they  eame«  and  the  other  soldiers. 

The  United  States*  troops  at  Burlington,  un- 
der ciunraand  of  maj.  gen.  Hampton^  consisted 
of  about  4000  men.  They  were  under  arms, 
waiting  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  would, 
undoubtedly,  have  defended  their  post  agaittst 
any  attack  they  could  have  nade  on  it. 


48t 


BUBTOmT   07  THE  UfAM, 


On  the  Sd  August*  the  enemy  appeared  he* 
fore  Burlington,  and  fired  into  the  town  for 
some  time*  but  no  considerable  damage  v/aa 
done.  In  the  evening*  or  the  same  day*  a  dor 
tachment  proceeded  to  Shelburne*  4  or  5  miles 
louth  of  Burlington,  where  they  seized  a  sloopf 
"with  about  400  uarrcis  of  flour.  Hie  limited 
force  under  gen.  Hampton,  would  not  justify 
hi?  detaching  any  part  of  his  troops  from  the 
protection  of  property  and  stores  under  his  im- 
lAecjiate  eare  :  the  marauding  enemy  wisely  re« 
tired  before  reinforcements  could  have  arrived. 

It  was  the  intention  of  the  U.  S.  government^ 
f  o  make  an  attack  on  Montreal,  befbre  the  win- 
ter would  put^an  end  to  the  campaign.  Theef- 
feetfng  of  this  object  would  give  to  the  United 
States  the  entire  command  of  Upper  Canada, 
eonipletely  siibdue  the  Indians,  re-gaiii  the  eon- 
fldenoe  of  the  Canadians,  which  wa»  suspended 
by  the  sudden  retreat,  and  subsequent  conduct 
of  gen.  Hull,  and  make  an  impression  on  the  en* 
enriv,  which  must  incline  him  to  peace,  on  just 
and  honorable  terms.  A  large  force  was  order- 
ef)  to  Sackett's  Harbor ;  mS  ^vu.  'Wilkinson, 
irho  had  the  chief  command,  was  ordered  to 
use  his  utmost  effort,  and  the  greatest  possible 
expedition  in  carrying  the  design  into  efTeet. 

On  the  1st  November,  gen.  Wilkinson's  army 
begHii  its  movement  from  Grenadier-Islund, 
down  the  St.  Lawrence.  Tl)ey  had  not  pro- 
oeeded  far,  before  the  advanced  corps,  under 
gen.  Brown,  was  attacked  by  t|ie  enemy,  from 
the  shore.  On  returning  the  fire,  the  enemy 
dit  persed,  and  the  army  advanced. 

The  movements  of  the  army,  under  general 
Hampton,  were  intended  to  facilitate  those  of 
gen.  Wilkinson ;  and  both  armies  were  finally 
tto  anitc,  previous  to  the  attaek  oa  MoatreaL 


HISTdRT  OV  THB   WAB. 


Mi 


Tlie  army,  umler  gen.  Hampton,  moved  from 
Chateaugay  on  the  2L8t  October,  and  arrived 
at  its  position  at  Sears^s,  on  the  22d — thus  hav- 
ing, with  incredible  labor,  surmounted  24*  miles 
of  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  route,  through 
the  extensive  and  almost  impassible  forest, 
'Which  bounds  (he  Canada  line.  After  4  or  5 
miles  of  open  count r^,  another  forest  of  6  or  7 
miles  wa»  opposed  to  their  march,  (which  was  on 
the  northwest  side  of  the  river).  This  the  en- 
emy had  made  almost  an  entire  fortification,  bv 
crossing  it  with  felled  trees,  interspersed  with 
breast-works  and  ditches  :  through  these  ob- 
structions, the  enemy  was  to  be  assailed-- a  part 
of  theii*  forces,  .consisting  of  light  troops  and 
Indiana,  were  posted  in  these  aefenees,  while 
the  main  body,  commanded  by  Sir  George  Pro- 
vost, in  person,  was  lodged  in  the  rear,  fortifi- 
ed with  batteries  and  cannon.  The  hardship^, 
the  American  army  had  endured,  the  continual 
rains  that  were  falling,  and  the  obstruction^  in 
front,  would  have  damped  the  ardor  of  troops 
IcKS  disposed  to  disregard  all  snfferings  and  per- 
ils in  pursuit  of  glory,  and  in  the  service  of  their 
country — but  on  the  contrary,  partaking  large- 
ly or  the  spirit  which  inspired  their  commander 
in  chief,  every  individual  seemed  uncommonly 
emulous  of  the  enterpiihise. 

It  was  believed  that  the  obstructions  could 
not  be  forced  by  the  main  body,  without  great 
loss.  To  avoid  this,  the  light  companies^  and  a 
regiment  of  infanti^)  were  detached  at  darki^^ 
on  the  evening  of  the  2.^lh«  to  proceed  on  the' 
opposite  (8.  E.)  side  of  the  river  to  a  fording 
place  below  the  enemy's  advance  ;  whieh  they 
were  to  cross,  and  attack  the  enemy  in  flank 
and  reari  while  the  main  body  should  attack  in 


11^ 


HtSTORT  OF  THE   WAR, 


front  5  and  thus,  destroy  the  enemy's  defence 
at  a  blow.  Owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
incessant  rain,  and  the  diflSculties  of  the  wood, 
the  guide  who  conducted  this  detachment  hav* 
ing  lost  his  way,  the  party  did  not  arrive  at  the 
proposed  point.  The  battalion  of  the  10th  re- 
giment, consisting  of  about  200  men,  were,  at 
the  appointed  time,  (3  o'clock  P.  M.  on  the 26th) 
at^he  entrance  of  the  obstructed  wood,  waiting 
the  attack  of  the  troops  on  the  enemy's  flank, 
which  was  to  be  the  bignal  for  them  to  advance. 
At  this  mo^nent,  the  enemy  commenced  a  Are 
on  this  battalion,  who  promptly  returned  it, 
then  charged  and  drove  the  enemy  from  their 
lurking  places,  dispersing  them  entirely,  and 
sifencing  their  Are  ;  in  this  the  Ameiricans  had 
only  cne  man  killed,  and  some  3  or  4*  wounded. 
At  this  moment,  the  firing  commenced  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  v<ith  some  of  the  light 
companies,  and  it  was  here,  and  not  in  either 
of  the  main  divisions  of  the  army,,  that  any  se- 
rious loss,  or  the  least  confusion  occurred ;  the 
enemy  was,  however,  soon  dispersed  in  this 
(^u^rter  also.  After  waiting  some  time  for  the 
renewal  of  the  enemy's  attack,  the  main  body 
of  the  American^ari^  fell  back  slowly  and  in 
good  order,  the  eniemy  not  dai^rig  to  show 
themselves,  or  in  the  least  to  interrupt  their 
inarch,  to  a  position  4  miles  from  the  place  of 
action.  Here  they  were  shortly  after  joined  by 
the  detached  party,  who  had  had  some  further 
skirmishing  with  the  eneiiiy  of  no  great  account. 
At  this  place  they  remained  several  days,  with- 
out receiving  the  least  molestation.  The  only 
failure  of  the  expedition,  is  attributable  to  the 
miscarriage  of  the  guide,  which  disconcerted  a 
plan,  that  otherwise  must  have  led  to  the  cap- 


M- 


niSTORT   or  THE   WAS. 


MS3 


twre  af  a  considerable  portion  of  the  enemy^s 
fort^e,  and  the  complete  destruction  of  his  plan 
of  defence. 

The  American  actual  total  Iosh,  in  kilkdi 
wounded  and  missing,  did  not  exceed  36  men; 
Thejtvhole  American  torce  engaged  did  not  ex- 
oeed  22$  men  on  the  side  where  the  greatest 
force  of  the  enemy  were  opposed — the  other  re- 
giments»  did  not  arrive  until  the  moment  when 
the  enemy  were  retiring,  and  were  only  formed 
and  in  line,  but  toiDk  no  jpsrt  in  the  engage- 
ment. 

^  Colonel  Purdy,  who  commanded  the  detach- 
ment which  fought  this  battle,  in  his  report  to 
gen.  Wilkinson,  is  very  free  in  his  censure  of 
gen.  Hampton.  «  Incredible,"  says  the  colonel, 
«  as  it  miky  appear,  gen.  Hampton  entrusted 
nearly  one  half  of  his  army,  and  those  his  best 
troops,  to  die  guidance  of  men,  eaeh  of  wlioni, 
repeatedly  assured  him,  that  they  were  not  ac- 
quainted with  the  country,  and  were  not  com- 
petent to  direct  such  an  expedition." 

«  Towards  sun-down,"  says  the  colonel,  <f  I 
sent  gen.  Hampton  a  request,  that  a  regiment 
might  be  ordered  down  to  cover  my  landing  on 
the  opposite  side  ,of  the  river;  but,  judge  my 
surprise^  on  receiving  intelligence  that  he  had 
retreated  with  the  second  brigade,  nearly  three 
miles." 

.  i<  Never,  to  my  knowledge,"  says  the  eoionel, 
in  anot'*  :jr  part  of  his  despatch,  "  during  our 
march,  into  Canada,  and  while  we  remained  at 
the  Four  Corners,  atermof  26  days,  did  gen. 
Hampton  ever  Lend  off  a  scouting  or  reconnoitre- 
ing  party,  (^except  in  on.3  or  two  cases  at  Spear's 
in  Canada,  when  he  detached  a  few  dragoon^ 
for  this  duty)  nor  did  he^  from  the  time  we  com- 


^r 


-  y 


>v^itU 


431 


BISTOST  OF  THE  WIH. 


menced  our  mareh  from  Cumberland  Head,  tm 
our  arrival  at  Plattsburgh^  ever  order  a  front 
flanky  or  rear  guard,  to  be  kept  up,  though  « 
greavt  part  of  the  time  yre  vtere  in  situations 
-Tivhich  evidently  required  it.  True  it  is,  these 
guards  were  pocasionally  sent  out,  not,  how6ver» 
by  his  order,  but  by  the  orders  of  the  officers 
commanding  brigades." 

The  eolonel  winds  up  hiseharges  against  gen. 
Hampton,  l^  sa^ng  **  Such  has  been  the  gene- 
itd's  conduct,  on  some  occasions,  that  I  have. 
In  common  with  other  officers,  been  induced  to 
believe,  that  he  was  under  the  inOuence  of  a 
too  free  use  Of  spiritous  liquors.'' 

Tb^  official  account  of  this  action,  by  the 
British  general  Baynes,  is  very  diflTerent  iVom 
the  iibove,  but  so  improbable  and  wid^  from  the 
truth,  that  it  may,  with  much  safety,  be  aver- 
f<ed,  that  it^  not  meet  belief  from  a  sin^e  rea- 
^  der  of  any  party.  iv 

As  soon  as  general  Wilkinson  passed  Kings- 
ton, and  that  it  became  evident,  he  must  have 
designed  the  taking  of  Montreal,  the  troops 
which  were  ste.fioned  for  the  defence  of  Kings- 
ton, were  employed  in  annoying  and  delaying 
the  progress  of  the  American  army.  «  The 
jifiorps  of  the  enemy ,**  says  gen.  Wilkinson,  in 
his  official  report  io  the  secretary  of  war,  <<  from 
Kingston,  which  followed  me,  hung  on  my  rear, 
and  in  concert  with  a  heavy  galley,  and  »  few 
gun-boats,  seemed  determined  to  retard  my 
progress.  I  was  strongly  tempted  to  halt,  turn 
*  hout,  and  put  an  end  to  his  teasing  |  but  alas ! 
1  was  confine^it  to  my  bed  ;  maj.  gen.  Lewis 
was  too  ill  for  any  active  exertions  ;  and  above 
all,  I  did  not  dare  suter  irys^lf  to  be  diverted  a 
single  day  from  the  prosecatfon  of  the  views  of 
gcvemment.'' 


-:'4 


HISTOIItT  OV  THE  WAV. 


135 


On  the  10th,  about  fiooii,  gen.  Brown,  who 
was  with  his  command  in  front,  and  some  dis- 
tance below  the  main  body  of  the  army,  was  en> 
gaged^#ith  the  enemy,  at  the  moment  when  a 
stroQg  party  of  the  enemy  advanced  on  the  rear 
of  gen.  Wilkinson,  with  several  gaiiiesand  gun- 
boats ';  from  whence  they  commenced  a  fire, 
bu4  were  'soon  compelleci  to  i^tire  from  the  fire 
of  a  battery  of  18  poundersy  planted  on^the  oe- 
oasion.  ^^kinson's  army  camci  to»  for  the 
anight,  a  short  distance  abov^  the  Loiigiie  Saot ; 
it  was  intended  to  pass  it  that  day,  but  the  de- 
lays occasioned  by  dis-embarking  and  re-em- 
barking heavy  guns,  prevented  the  army  ft*oni 
i  eaching  the  Saut  as  early  as  expected  ;  and 
the  pilots  would  not  dare  enter  the  Saut,  (a  ra- 
pid of  8  miles)  at  a  late  hour.  At  10  o'clock, 
the  following  day,  gen*  Wilkinson  received  ad- 
Vice,  that  gen.  Brown,  having  forced  th^  ene- 
my, would  arrive  at  the  foot  of  the  Saut,  early 
in  the  day.  Orders  were  immediately  given, 
lb;*  the  flotilla  to  sail,  at  whieh  moment,  the  en- 
emy's gun-boats  appeared,  and  began  to  throw 
shells  among  the  American  flotilla.'  General 
Wilkinson,  calculating,  from  reports  and  ap^ 
fiearances,  that  the  enemy  only  looked  for  a  fa- 
vorable opportunity  for  atiack,  had  determined 
to  anticipate  him*  «  Directions,"*  says  general 
Wilkinson,  **  were  accordingly  sent,  by  that 
distinguished  ofiloer,  col.  Swift,  of  the  engmeers, 
to  brig.  gen.  Boyd,  to  throw  the  detachmentsof 
his  command,  assignee!  to  him  in  t^  order  of 
the  preceding  day,  and  composed  of  men  of  his 
own,  Covington's  and  Swartwout's  brigades,  in- 
to 3  columns,  to  march  upon  the  enemy,  out- 
flank them  if  possible,  and  take  their  artiller''. 
The  action  soon  after  commenced  with  the  ad- 


f'^i^' 


"■'»■ 


iSS 


HISTOKT  or  TAB  WAlt. 


.!»^ 


yancetl  bodj^  of  the  eneniy,  and  became  extreme- 
ly sharp,  and  galling*  and^  with  occasional  pau- 
sesy  was  sustained  with  great  vivacity^  in  open 
space  and  lair  combat,  for  upwards  of  two  and 
a  half  hours — the  adverse  lines  alternately 
yielding  and  advancing.  It  is  impossible  to  say, 
with  aceuraey*  what  was  our  number  on  the 
lield,  because  it  consisted  of  indefinite  detach- 
ments taken  from  the  boats  to  render  safe  tho 
parage  of  the  Saut.  Gens.  Covsngton  and 
Swartwout,  voluntarily  took  part  in  the  action^ 
At  the  head  of  detachments,  from  their  respec- 
tive brigades,  and  exhibited  the  same  courage 
that  was  displayed  by  brig.  gen.  Boyd^  whohap- 
pencd.to  be  the  senior  officer  on  the  ground. — 
Our  force  engaged  might  have  reached  16  or 
1700  men,  but  actually  did  not  exceed  ISOO  ; 
that  of  the  enemy  was  estimated  from  1200  to 
^,000,  but  did  not  prolmbly  amount  to  more  than 
15  or  1600->consisting,  as  I  am  informed,  of 
detachments  from  the  49th,  S4th,  and  104th  re- 
giments of  the  line,  with  three  companies  of  the 
Yoltigeur  and  Glengary  corps,  and  the  militia 
of  the  couutry^  who  are  not  included  in  the  es- 
timate." 
This  battle  (the  battle  of  Williamsburgh)  was 

f^oontested  with  a  courage  and  obstinacy,  that 
perhaps  bad'no  parallel.  To  witness  undisci- 
plined troops  and  inexperi^'^Deed  officers,  substi- 

;  luting  courage  and  patriotism  in  place  of  mili- 
tary knowledge  ;  and  thus  opposed,  for  S  hour?^ 
to  a  regular  army,  was  a  sight  on  which  the 
guardian  angel  of  A mericti,  must  have  looked 
with  exulting  gratification.  Amidst  a  shower 
of  musketry  and  8/trnpniBf- shells,  the  braie 
Americans,  insensible  to  fcar^  dashed  into  im 
ranks  of  the  enemy,  whose  position  was  strength- 


enei 
tirei 
and 

COBlj 

as  to 

retir 

the  I 

this  < 

ry  di 

ed  to 

was  li 

lanto 

his  m 

Th( 

horde 

hadfi 

and  til 

tack  I 

were  c 

flotilla 

order, 

enemy 

Gen 

while  1 

Colone 

flghtinj 

€ummj 

ing  a  ci 

•xhaust 

has  tak 

patoh» 

•olonels 

Oaines, 

t«mit9 


HISTOBT  09  TUB  WAB. 


t^ 


ttu- 


ened  by  rayioes  and  thickets.  The  enemy  re- 
tired for  more  than  a  mile  before  the  resolute 
and  repeated  oharffes.  The  brigade*  first  en- 
gaged, had  expended  its  atiiinunition,  and  was 
compelled  to  retire,  in  order,  to  proeure  a  sup-* 
ply.  This  movement  so  diseoneerted  the  line» 
as  to  render  it  expedient  for  another  brigade  to 
retire.  The  artillery,  owing  to  the  nature  of 
the  ground,  eould  not  be  brought  up  until  after 
this  event.  ,^The  fire  from  the  artillery' was  ve- 
ry destructite  to  the  enemy  ;  but  when  direct- 
ed to  retire,  in  passins  a  deep  ravine,  onepieco 
was  lost,  but  not  until  after  the  fall  of  its  gal- 
lant eommander,  lieutenant  Smith,  and  most  of 
his  men. 

The  whole  of  the  line  was  re-formed  on  the 
borders  of  those  woods  from  which  the  enemy 
had  first  been  driven,  when,  night  eoming  on, 
and  the  storm  continuing,  and  the  olyeet  of  at« 
tack  having  been  fully  accomplished,  the  troops 
were  directed  to  return  to  the  ground  near  the 
flotilla,  which  movement  |^as  executed  in  good 
order,  and  without  any  ifiterJruptioA  from  the 
enemy. 

General  Covington  reeeived  a  mortal  wovnd<»- 
while  leading  his  men  to  a  successful  charge.-^ 
Colonel  Preston  was  severely  wounded,  while- . 
fighting  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  Major 
Cummlngs  received  a  severe  wound,  while  malj^** 
ing  a  charge,  but  yet  continued  to  figlit  until 
exhausted  by  the  lees  of  blood.  General  Boj^ 
has  taken  particular  notice,  in  his  official  des- 
patch, of  the  merits  of  brig.  gen.  Swart wout». 
•olonels  Coles,  Walbaek,  Johnson^  Piereoy. 
Gaines,  Ripley  and  A  spin  wall ;  majors  Morgan, 
CpiikC^onV Gardner,  Beebe  and  Chambers;  lieu^ 
tewmts  B»tffy9  Whiting  and  Wortlt.    The  gen^ 


138 


UliiiTOBT  0¥  THE   WAR. 


eral  coi^cludes  his  rcportin  the  follov/^ng  words  : 
**  Permit  me  how  to  add,  sir,  that  though  the 
result  of  this  action  was  not  so  brilliant  and  de- 
eisive  as  I  could  have  wished,  and  the  -first  sta- 
ges of  it  seemed  to  promise,  yet,  wheii  it  is  re- 
collected,  that  the  troops  had  been  long  expose 
cd  to  hard  privations  and  fatigues,  to  inclement 
storms,  from  which  they  could  have  no  shelter  ; 
that  the  enemy  were  superior  to  us  in  numbers^ 
and  greatly  superior  in  position,  a^d  supported 
by  7  or  8  heavy  gun-boats  ;  that  the  action  be- 
ing unexpected,  was  necessarily  commenced^ 
without  much  concert  ^  that  we  were,  by  una- 
voidable circumstances,  long  deprived  of  our 
artillery  ;  and  that  the  action  was  warmly  and 
obsdAately  contested  for  more  than  three  hours* 
during  which  there  were  but  a  few  short  cessa- 
tions of  musketry  and  cannon  ;    when  all  these 
circumstances  are  recelleeted,  perhaps  this  day 
may  be  thought  to  have  added  some  reputation 
to  the  American  arms.      And  if,  on  this  occa- 
sion, you  shall  believje  me  to  have  done  my  duty, 
and  accomplished  any  one  of  your  purposes^  I 
shall  be  satisfied.'* 

After  this  engagement,  the  troops  {troceeded 
down  the  river  without  further  annoyance  from 
the  enemy  or  their  gun-boats,  while  the  dra- 
goons, with  five  pieces  of  artilliery,  inarched 
down  the  Canada  shore  without  molestation.--^ 
The  next  morning  the  flotilla  passed  through 
'the  Saut>  and  joined  general  Brown,  near  Corn- 
wall. 

On  the  arrival  of  general  Wilkinson  with 
general  Brown,  he  learned  that  general  Hamp- 
ton, instead  of  meeting  him  near  that  place,  was 
marching  towards  Lake  Chum  plain.  The  letter 
of  general  Hampton*  announcing  this  unexpeet- 


DISTORT  OV  THE  WAR. 


i89 


ed  movcmenty  together  with  a  copy  of  that  to 
which  it  was  an  answer,  were  immediately  sub- 
mitted to  a  council  of  war,  who  unanimously 
gave  itf  as  their  opinion,  «  ihat  the  attack 
on  Montreal  should  be  abandoned  for  the  pre- 
sent season,  and  the  army  near  Cornwall  should^ 
be  immediately  crossed  to  the  American  shore, 
for  taking  up  winter  quarters,  and  that  this 
place  afforded  an  eligible  position  for  such  quar- 
ters." 

Thus  ended  the  campaign,  and  an  expedition 
which  seemed,  in  every  respect,  well  calculated 
to  effect  its  object. 

General  Wilkinson,  who  attributed  the  fai- 
lure of  this  expedition  to  <<  the  extraordinary^ 
unexampled*  and  it  appears,  unwarrantable  con- 
duct of  major-general  Hampton,  in  refusing  to> 
join  this  army,  with  a  division  of  4000  men,  un- 
der his  command,  agreeable  to  orders,"  in.a  let-^ 
ter  to  the  secretary  of  war,  of  Idth  November, 
writes — 

«  It  is  a  fact,  for  which  t  am  authorised  to 
pledge  myself,  on  the  most  confidential  author- 
ity, tl^at  on  the  4th  of  the  present  month,  the 
British  garrison  of  Montreal,  consisted  solely 
of  400  marines  and  200  sailors,  which  had  beea 
sent  up  from  Quebec.  "We  have,  with  the  pro- 
vision here,  and  that  left  at  Chateaugay,  about 
40  day's  subsistence,  to  which  I  shall  add  30 
more." 

In  a  letter  of  the  17tfa  November,  gep.  Wif- 
kinson  writes— 

<<  After  what  has  passed  between  us,  you  can 
perhaps,  conceive  my  amazement  and  chagrin,- 
at  the  conduct  of  major-general  Hampton.  The 
game  was  in  view,  and,  had  he  |)ei'fornied  the 
junction  directed;  would  have  been  ours  in  S- 


i40 


BI8T0BT   •¥  THB   WAM. 


days.  But  he  chose  to  recede,  in  order  to  co- 
operate) and  my  dawning  hopes,  and  the  hopes 
and  honor  of  the  army,  iiirere  blasted." 

The  loss  at  the  battle  of  Williamsbureh,  ia 
Upper  Canada,  consisted  of  102  killed,  339 
Ikounded,  including  officers.  The  enemy's  loss 
vas  represented,  by  authority  worthy  of  credit^ 
to  exceed  500  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Statement  of  the  strength  of  the  enemy  in  the 
action  of  the  11th  November,  IS^B,  on  Kes- 
ler's  field,  in  Williamsburgh,  in  Upper  Cana- 
da—founded on  the  separate  examination  of 
a  number  of  British  prisoners  taken  on  the 
field  of  battle. 


Of  t)i9  89th  regiment 

760 

49th      do. 

.450 

Toltigeurs         ""      , 

270 

GlengHry's 

80  one  company. 

OfthelOOth 

40  a  detachment 

from  Preseott.- 

Canadian  Feneibles 

220 

Indians                      ^ 

40 

Incorporated  Militia 

300 

2160 

Four  pieces  of  mounted  artillery,  and  7  gun- 
boats^-one  mounting  a  24  pounder. 

After  the  troops  went  into  winter  quarters,  a 
pliaeard  was  distributed  in  the  American  eamp^ 
of  which  the  following  i»a  copy  : 

<«  To  the  American  Army  at  Salmon  MiTer, 

c<  NOTICE.— All  American  soldiers  who  are 
filling  to  quit  the  unnatural  war  in  which  they  are 
at  present en^^aged,  will  receive,  at  the  British  out-^ 
liosts,  the  arrears  due  to  them  by  the  American  go* 
^jternmenl^  to  the  extent  of  fife  month's  pay.    ^o 


man 
try." 

TJ 
*fleci 
of  th 

A 
Oetol 
col.  I 

leftC 

quoi-l 

arrive 

enem^ 

by  thi 

luy  CO 

ten  mi 

down  1 

prison 

Col. 

compai 

about ! 

vancinj 

with  81 

and  ca] 

cavalry 

the  infc 

The 

and  sen 

The^ 

The  nu 

killed  ai 

The  I 

ly  aided 

which  h 

expediti 

Tbef 

tailed  hj 

Biaue#  in 


HISTORY  OF  THE   WAB. 


i4i 


man  shall  be  required  to  serve  against  his  own  couto* 
try." 

This  produced  no  desei'tions,  nor  any  other 
effect,  except  contempt  of  the  wretched  author 
of  the  placard. 

A  very  handsome  afifair  was  executed  the  12th 
October^  by  a  party  of  men,  under  command  of 
col.  Isaac  Clark.  The  colonel,  with  his  party^ 
left  Ghazy  landing,  so  as  to  arrive  at  Massfts- 
quoi-bay  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning.  He 
arrived,  unperceived,  withii|  a  few  rods  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  drawn  up  in  order  of  battle, 
by  their  commander,  major  Powell.  The  eqe- 
my  commenced  a  fire  on  the  left  flank,  but  in 
ten  minutes  after  the  first  attack,  they  laid 
down  their  arm s^  and  sun^ndered  themselves 
prisoners  of  war. 

Col.  Clark  despatched  capt.  Finch,  with  his 
company,  to  reconnoitre  the  course  of  a  body  of 
about  200  men,  who  were  supposed  to  be  ad- 
vancing against  him.  Capt.  Finch  proceeded 
with  such  promptness  and  ability  as  to  surprise 
and  oapture'the  aidvanced  guard,  consisting  of 
cavalry,  except  one  man,  who  fled,  and^  giving 
the  information,  the  enemy  escaped* 

The  prisoners  were  then  put  on  board  boatSf^ 
and  sent  to  Burlington. 

The  whole  Anierican  force  engaged  was  ±6^ 
The  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  101  ^  thQ 
killed  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  23. 

The  success  of  this  expedition  Was  material- 
ly aided  by  a  knowledge  of  the  conntry,  into 
which  he  marched,  which  a  commander  of  an 
expedition  should  always  be  fuUmaster  of. 

The  following  gallant  action  will  be  best- de- 
tailed by  giving  the  ofHcial  report  whlqli  wai 
maue>  m  the  foUoifing  words : 


4^ 


niSTOBT  OF  THE  WAHr 


«  Charltaton,  (S.  C,J  AuguBt  31,  1813. 

it  Sir— I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you,  that  the 
privateer  schooner  Decatur,  of  this  port,  arrived 
here  yesterday,  with  H.  B>  M.  schooner  Dominico, 
her  prize.  She  was  captured  on  the  5th  inst.  after 
a  most  gallant  and  desperate  action  of  one  hour, 
and  carried  by  boarding,  having  all  her  officers  kil- 
led or  weunded,except  one  midshipman.  The  Do* 
ninica  mounts  15  guns,  one  a  S3'  pounder,  on  a  pi« 
vot,  and  had  a  complement  of  83  men  at  the  com* 
liiencement  of  the  action,  60  of  whom  were  killed 
or  wotmded-  She  wips  one  of  the  best  equipped  and 
manned  vessels  of  heir  class  I  have  evisr  seen.  The 
Decatur  mounts  7  guns,  and  had.  a  complement  of 
103  men  at  the  commencement  of  the  action,  nine- 
teei^pfwhom  were  killed  and  wounded;  I  have 
the  honor  to  be,  with%reat  respect,  your  most  obei* 
dient  servant^ 

¥    ;  JOHN  H.  DENT. 

Hon.  Win.  Jones,  Secretary  of  the  Navy."  - 

During  the  combaty  whidi  lasted  an  honr^ 
the  king's  packet  ship.  Princess  Charlotte',  re- 
mained^ silent  speotator  of  the  scene,  and  as 
soon  as  the  yessels  were  disengaged  ft*om  ea«il 
ether,  she  tacked  about  and  stood  ti>  the  south- 
ward. I^he  had  sailed  from  St.  Thoihas,  bound 
to  England,  under  eonvoj,  to  a  certain  latitude, 
of  the  Dominico. 

'^f  he  loss  on  board  the  Dominico  consisted  of 
killed  1%  wounded  47,  5  of  wbon  mortally. 

On  the  14tb  of  this  month,  (August,  iai3) 
the  U.  S.  brig  Argus  was  captured  bjr  the  Bri- 
tish sloop  of  war  Pelican.  The  Argus  sailed 
from  New- York,  the  21st  June,  for  France,  and 
arrived  at  Le  Orient,  after  a  passage  of  23  days> 
iRthcre  Mr.  Crawford,  minister  from  the  United 
States  to  the  court  of  Franee,  landed.  Froui 
Le  Orient^  the  Argus  sailed^  <on  a  eruis^  in  thu 


»rki 

tish  9 

takinj 

lM)rte< 

the  ei 

hy  bo; 

ed-on 

bravei 

gainst 

knowli 

ment. 

nien,  4 

W.  A 

swain'j 

lieut.  1 

carpeni 
24. 

Whei 
Argus, 

olainied 
Termeei 

The  J 
ken  and 

Thef 
«f  the  t 

burthen 
the  rest  1 

Peliem 
and^  sw 
of  them  1 
at  Cork. 

On  the 

withH.  J 
Bi^sb  bi 


f 


■i^i 


HI«TOBT  OF  TUB  VIB. 


1«S 


Brkish  obanneU  M^here  she  fell  in  with  the  Bri- 
tish sloop  Pelican^  fitted  out  for  the  purpose  of 
takine  the  Argus.  The  action  was  well  sup- 
|H>rtea  by  the  Americans  for  40  minutes^  when 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  capturing  the  Argus* 
by  boarding.  The  number  of  kiHt^d  and  wound- 
ed-on  board  the  American  will  best  explain  the 
bravery  with  which  the  ship  was  defended,  a- 
gainst  a  vessel,  which  the  British  editors  ac- 
knowledged to  be  superior  in  size  and  arma- 
ment. Killed,  on  board  the  Argus,  S^idship- 
men,  4.  seamen  ;  wounded,  mortally,  eapt  Wqi* 
"W.  Allen,  commander,  1  carpenter,  1  boat* 
swain's  mate,  1  seaman ;  ^iwoanded,  severelyt 
lleut.  Watson,  1  quarter- master,  3  seamen,  1 
carpenter's  mate  ;  wounded,  slightly,  8  ;  total 
24. 

When  captain  Allen  was  removing  out  of  the 
Argus,  to  bjp  conveyed  to  the  hospital,  he  ex** 
claimed — **J6od  hlessyoupwy  ladSfWeahaUne' 
Ter  meet  ag&inJ*       u 

The  Argus,  previous  to  her  capture,  had  ta- 
ken and  destroyed  21  stiSl  of^Bntish  vessiis. 

The  following  statement  will  show  the  force 
4>f  the  two  vessels. 

Jirgu9---ie  24  pound  carronades,  2  long  9*8-^ 
burthen  208  tons,  94  men  fit  for  duty,  5  sick, 
the  rest  absent  in  priaftes.  " 

Pfliean-— 2^2  pound  carronades,  i  long^^, 
and  2  swivels-^burtben  584  tons,  i^  roeii^ .  11 
of  them  volonpteers,  for  the  occasioii^  l^om  skij^ 
at  Cork. 

On  the  5th  September,  the  IT.  8.  brig  ^it(«r- 
finxte,  'William  Buirows,  commander,  fell  in 
with  H.  B.  M.  brig  Boxer,  capt.  Bly the.  The 
Beitlsh  brig  was  discover'  d  at  anchor, in^  shore^ 
»t  h  e'dockj^  Af  M.     Fen)  jaquid  bearing  north 


144 


HISTOBT  OV  THE   VfXR, 


8  miles  distance.    After  some  mdncfuvrinSfthe' 
briss  approached  at  a  quarter  past  3,  P*  M. 
^vitTiin  half  pistol  shot  of  each  oilier,  when  the 
action  commenced.     At  20  minutes  past  S,  the 
brave  commander  of  the  Enterprize  fell,  mor- 
tally wounded  ;  while  lying  on  the  deck,  he  re- 
fused to  be  carried  below,  raised  his  head,  and 
requested  «  that  theilag  might  never  he  8truck,** 
Thus  lay  the  intrepid  Burrows,  until  he  learned 
the  result  of  the  action,    when,  clasping  his 
bands,  he  said  <•  I  die  contented.'*   Ue  was  then 
taken  befow,  and  died  in  8  hours  afterward. — 
At  4  P.  M.  the  enemy  ceased  firing,  and  cried 
out  for  quarters  ;  faying,  that  as  their  colors 
were  nailed,  they  could  not  haul  them  down; — 
a  si|iiicient  proof  that  it , was  resolved  never  to 
yield  to  a  Yankee  crew.      Some  of  the  crew  of 
tlie   Boxer  have  aektaowledged,  that  she  left 
port  with  a  eompleiiient  of  115  picked  men,  for 
the  'purpose  of  taking  theJStUerprixe,  that  6  men 
were  put  on  board  a  p^rize^3^n(|  6  ashore  on  the 
island  of  Manhiggen,  llfjUving  on  board,  when 
the  action  comuiemped,  104^«  which  account  a- 
grees  with  t^e  muster- bodii^r found  on  board  of 
the  Boxer.    The  number  of  killed  a^d  wounded 
on  board  the  Boxer,  could  not  be  iascertained 
^ith  certainty,  as  many  of  the  fbritier  were 
tbrown  overboard*     The^p^ior  officer  of  the 
£nterprize  states  it,  fromi  thi^  bjeft  information 
be  could  obtain;  at  between  20  and  30  kiUed, 
und  14*  wounded.     Capt.  Bly  the,  the  command- 
er of  the  Boxer,,  was  amqng  the  killed.      The 
following  extract  ol^a  letter  from  capt.  Hull  to 
commodore  Bainbridge,  is  too  important  to  be 
omitted. 

**  I  yesterday  visited  the  tWo  brigs,  and  was  as- 
totiished  to  see  the  difference  of  injurjpustaine^  in 


aiSTORT  OT  THK  WAIL 


1^5 


the  action.     The  Entcrfirize  has  but  one  1 8  pound 
shot  in  her  hull)  one  in  her  mainmast)  and  one  in  her 
foremast ;  her  sails  are  much  cut  with   grape  shotf 
and  there  are  a  great  number  of  grape  lodged  in  her 
sides,  but  no  injury  done  by  them.     The  Boxer  has 
eighteen  or  twenty  18  pound  shot  in  her  hull)  most 
of  them  at  the  water's  edge,  several  stands  of  18 
pound  grape  stick  in  her  side,  and  such  a  quantity 
of  small  grape,  that  I  did  not  imdertake  to  count 
them«     Her  masts,  sails  and  spars,  are  literally  cut 
to  pieces,  several  of  her  guns  dismounted  and  un- 
fit for  service  ;  her  topgallant  forecastle  nearly  ta* 
ken  off  by  the  shot ;  her  boats  cut  to  pieces,  and 
her  quarters  injured  in  proportion;      To  give  you 
an  idea  of  the  quantity  of  slfot  about  her,  I  inform 
you,  that  I  counted  in  her  ma<n mast  alone,  three  18 
l)ound  shot  holes,  1 8  large  grape    shot  holes,   1 6 
musket  ball  holes,  and  a  largf  number  of  smaller 
shot  holes,  and  without  coanting  above  the  cat  har- 
pins.     We  ^od  it  impossible  to  get  at  the  number 
killed ;  no  papers  are  found  hy  which  we  can  ascer- 
tain it— 1»  Hbwever,  cQuated  upwards  of  90  ham« 
mocks,  which  were^  in  her  netting  with  beds  in 
them,  besides  several  beds  without  hamnipcks  ;—  ' 
she  has  excellent  accommodations  for  all  her  ofli* 
cersbelowln  sCate  r4)oiifB,  so  that  I  haye  no  doubt 
that  shehafl^  100  men  on  board.      We  know  that 
she  has  several  pf  thjp  Rattler's  men,  and  a  quantity 
of  wads  wa»  taken  out  of  the  Rattier,  loade^  wi*h 
4  large  /crape  sboti^with  a  small  hole'  in  the  c<;ntre, 
to  put  in  a  cartage,  that  the  inside  of  th^'Vad  may 
take  fire  when  it^  lea'fes  the  gun.      In  sbqtt)  she  is 
in  every  respect  completely  fitted ;  and  h«r  ftccom- 
tnodations  exceed  ally  ..thing  I  have  seen  in  jiiressel 
of  her  class."  ,     ■  -. , 


-■>''■ 


if  there  is  M  Afeeriean  who  wouM  deoj  (ho 
honor  diie*  on  this  Of  casiom  to  th^  j^ffieJ'ioan 
tars^  let  him  read  the  follpwin^  from  a  l40hdoti 
paper^  and  yields  however  unwillingly,  tlie  palm 

-is 


146 


BISTOBT  OT  rMB  VfAM, 


io  the  first  ti&tion  in  the  world,  the  hitherto 
•despised  citizens  of  the  United  States.  The 
following  is  a  eo^  of  the  extract  alluded  to. 

**  Among  the  American  news,  which  is  to  be  found 
in  the  papers  just  received  from  that  countiy,  it 
pains  us  to  find  a  full  coniirmation  of  the  loss  of  his 
majesty's  brig  Boxer,  which  has  added  another  lau- 
rel to  the  naval  honors  of  the  United  States.  The 
vessel  by  which  she  was  captured  is  represented 
(falsely  ^ve  believe)  as  of  only  equal  force  with  her- 
self; but  what  we  regret  to  perceive  stated,  and 
trust  will  be  found  much  exaggerated,  is,  that  the 
Boxer  was  literally  cut  to  pieca  in  sails,  rigging, 
Afiarsand  Az^//;  whilst  the  Enterprise  (her  antago- 
laist)  was  in  a  situation  to  commence  a  similar  action 
immediately  aftertoards.  The  fact  seems  to  be  but 
too  clearly  established,  that  the  Americans  have 
jaome  aufierior  mode  qf  Jiring  s  and  we  cannot  be 
too  anxiously  employed  in  discovering  to  what  cir- 
cumstances that  superiority  is  owing,  v  The  Boxer 
was  certainly  not  lost  for  want  of  heroism.  The 
British  captain  nailed  his  colors  to  the  mast,  and 
happily  did  not  live  to  see  them  struck.  Both  com- 
mandeifs  died  in  the  action,  which  appears  to  have 
been  of  the  most  desperate  kind;  and  both  were 
buried  at  the  same  time,  in  the  port  to  which  the 

rize  Wt^s  carried;" 

The  loss  on  board  the  Enterprize^  was— 
1  ordinary  seaman,  killed  ;  1  eommander^ 
{Burrows),  1  midshipman,  (K.  Waters),  i  car- 
penter*s  mate,  mortally  wounded  ;  3  quarter- 
masters, 1  boatswain's  mate,  5  scpmen,  1  ma- 
rine, wounded. — Total  14. 

The  remains  of  the  gallant  conimanders, 
(Burrows  and  Blythe)  were  buried  in  Portland, 
with  m?!itary  honors.  Capt.  Blythe,  of  the 
Boxer,  was  one  of  the  pall-bearers,  at  the  fune- 
ral honors  paid  to  the  late  capt.  Lawrence^  at 
Halifax.    ' 


cedii}{ 


HISTOBT  0?  THE  WAB. 


1^7 


The  U.  S.  brig  Enterprize  was  formerly  fir 
schooner,  and  is  the  f  ame  vessel  with  whie!! 
lient.  Sterrett,  in  August,  1801,  captured,  with^ 
out  tilt  loss  of  a  man,  the  Tripolitan  sliip  ot 
war  Tri|ioJi,  of  14  guns  and  85  men,  bO  of  whom 
were  killed  and  wounded. 

By  a  resolution  of  congress,  tb  3  president  of 
the  United  States  was  requested  to  present  to* 
the  nearest  male  relative  of  lieut.  William  Bur- 
rows, and  to  lieut.  R.  M<Call,  of  the  bri^En- 
terpria^a  gold  medal ;  and  a  silver  medal  t» 
each  oAhe  commissioned  officers  of  said  vesseV 

The^iresident  of  the  United  States,  having* 
oonsidered  the  Boxer  as  equal  in  force  to  thd 
Enterprize,  has  ordered  her  to  be  delivered  up 
for  the  benefit  of  the  captors. 

Com.  Rodger s  arrived  at  Newport,  the  26tlr 
September,  in  the  frigate  President,  iiaving 
>ailed  from  Boston,  on  his  third  cruise,  in  com'i> 
pany  with  the  Congress,  the  30th  of  Ajiril  pre- 
ceding. After  parting  company  with  the  Con- 
gress, on  the  8th  M^,  in  Ion.  60  W.  lat.  39, 
30,  N.  he  shaped  his  course  to  the  south .'Hrd 
of  the  Grand  Bank,  with  the  view  to  intercept 
the  enemy's  West-India  trade  :  being  disap- 
pointed in  this  quarter,  be  pursued  a  route  ti 
the  northward,  on  a  parallel  with  the  eastern 
edge  of  the  Grand  Bank,  so  as  to  cross  the 
tmcks  of  the  West-India,  Halifax,  Quebec,  and 
Sr.  John's  trade.  Not  being  successful,  after 
reaching  the  latitude  of  48  N.  he  steered  tn. 
ward  the  Azores,  oif  which  he  continued  until 
the  6th  June,  without  meeting  an  enemy's  ves^ 
sel.  From  hence,  he  crowded  sail  to  the  N.  E. 
in  search  of  an  encniy's  convoy,  which  he  learn- 
ed,  was  seen  sailing  from  the  IfVest-Indies,  to 
England.    Althoug:h  disappointed  in  falling  iw 


U6 


HISTORY  OV  TBE  1¥AB. 


ivith  the  convoyy  he  nevertheless  made  4  eap- 
turesy  the  9th  and  13th  of  June.  This  brought 
him  so  far  to  the  north  and  east,  that .  he  re- 
solved on  going  into  the  North  Sea.  He  put 
into  North  fiergen  on  the  27th  June»  to  proeure 
provisions  and  water,  not  having  seen  any  ene> 
my*^  vessel  since  the  13th.  At  Bergen  he  could 
proeiire  Only  water ;  and  departed  from  thence 
the  2d  July,  stretching  over  towards  the  Ork-^ 
ney  ' -ands;  and  from  thence  towards  the 
NortiiiCape,  in  search  of  a  British  coiivoy,  that 
"Was  ^0  sail  from  Archangel,  of  whicMKbe  ob- 
tained information  from  2  vessels,  wMch  he 
captured  on  the  13th  and  18th  July,  ft  this, 
object  he  was  disappointed,  by  the  appearance 
of  2  of  the  enemy's  ships  of  war  (a  line  of  bat- 
tle ship  and  a  frigate)  off  the  North  Cape>  on 
tlie  19tfa  July.  The  President  was  chased  by 
these  2  ships  for  80  hours,  but  e£&eted  her  es- 
cape. The  commodore  next  proceeded  to  a  sta- 
tion where  he  might  intercept  the  trade  passing 
into  and  out  of  the  Irish  channel.  In  this  posi- 
tion, he  made  3  captures,  between  the  25th  Ju- 
ly and  1st  August ;  when,  fearing  the  great  su- 
perior force  of  the  enemy  in  that  quarter,  he 
changed  his  ground  ;  and,  after  taking  a  cir- 
cuit round  Ireland,  and  getting  into  the  latitude 
of  Cape  Clear,  he  steered  for  the  banks  of  New- 
fnundlahd,  near  which  he  made  2  captures. — 
From  the  Banks,  he  steered  for  the  United 
States  ;  and,  being  short  of  provisions,  was 
compelled  to  make  the  first  port,  into  which  he 
could  safely  enter.  He  brought  in  with  I  im,  H. 
B*  M.  schr.  High  Flyer,a  tenderto  admiral  War- 
ren, captured  on  the  23d. July.  He  took  27i 
prisoners  ;  216  of  whom  were  sent  horoe  in  oar- 
tcls;  and  b5  brought  home  in  the  President. 


A)' 


UISTORT  07  THE  WAR. 


U9 


The  movements,  on  tbe  Niagara  frontier,  be- 
gfAn  at  this  time,  to  wear  a  very  serious  aspect. 

The  following  address  was  cireulated  in  the 
western  district  of  tUe  state  of  N«w- York. 

<*  TO  THE  PATRIOTS  OF  THE  WESTERN 

DISTRICT. 

«  Tbe  period  being  at  band  wbich  is  to  decide' 
tbe  fate  of  the  province  of  Upper  Canada)  and  the 
command  of  tbe  Niagara  frontier,  having  devolved 
on  me ;  {  tl>ink  proper  to  invite  the  old  and  young 
patriots  of  tbe  Western  Distrlctrto  jpm  my  brigade* 
in  ueience  of  their  country  and  lights— any  nun|ber 
not  exceediag  1000  wiU  be  accepted  and  organiiBed' 
#   immediately  on  their  arrival  at  Le\yiston,  and  ofii^ 
cercd  by  tbe  choice  of  their  men.      Ah  the  move-f 
ments  of  aw  army  require  secrecy*  object^  in  view' 
cannot  be   particularly  developed ;  but  those  who 
feel  disposed  to  distiiigiiiSh  themselves  and  render 
services  to  their  country,  niay  be  ussured  that  some- 
thing efficient  and  decisive.  Will  be  done^    Tbe  ternji 
of  service  will  be  2 monthsvif  not  sooner  disch'irg*' 
ed  ;  and  evei^  thing  shall  be  done  tp  render  their* 
situations  as  comibrtable  as  possible.     I  wi^h  none 
to  volunteer  who  may  have  any  constitutional  objec-'*^ 
tions  to  cross  the  iJ^iagara  river;     1,400  of  my  bri- 
gade have  already  volunteered  to  cross  the  river,/# 
and  go  wherever  they  may  be  required  ;  and  6O0rr 
of  them  are  now  doing  duty  at  Fort  George.    I  flatr 
ter  myself  that  ni>  other  censideration  need  be  urg- 
ed, than  love  of  country»  t«>  excite  the  patriotism  oF^ 
\ht  yeomanry  of  the  We^-iern  District.' 

"  Givea  at  head-Qiiarters,  Lewiston,  Oetober  Scl,  ^ 
1813.  GEO.  M*rLURE, Brig.  Gen. 

Commanding  Niagara  l^ontier. " ' 

A  oonsiflerable  number  of  patriotic  volunteerg  * 
ioeked^  onihis  oocasibn^  to  the  standard  of  §;en. 
M^Chrre. 

Tbe  ioUowing  19  an  extract  of  the  f^eiierars 


■■# 


■.If- 


tBO 


HISTORY  Of  THE  WAS. 


m^ 


leUcsr  in  governor  Tompkins,  of  the  stale  of  New- 
York,  dated  Fort  George,  6th  October,  1813. 

<^  We  have  commenced  offensive  operations  si« 
gainst  the  enemy.  About  500  militia  volunteers) 
and  atlout  1 50  Indians,  commanded  by  col.  ChapiO) 
attacked  the  picket  guard  of  the  enemy  about  a  mile 
and  an  half  from  Fort  George,  and  drove  them  in 
tipon  the' main  body,  when  the  enemy  opened  a  fire 
from  several  field  pieces.  Our  men  retired  in^  good 
order  into  the  fort^  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed 
and  3  or  three  wounded*  The  enemy's  loss  was  .7 
killed,  many  wounded,  and  4  prisoners. 

<(  In  a  short  time,the  enemy  appeared  in  consider* 
able  force  within  500  yards  of  the  fort,  at  the  edge 
of  the  woods ;  Chapin  again  sallied  out  with  about 
800  men  and  some  Indians,  commenced  a  brisk  fire 
on  th^  whole  of  the  enemy's  line,  and  drove  them 
lialf  a  mile— but,  perceiving,  by  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  that  they  would  outflank  us,  I  ordered 
^0  to  reinforce  him,  and  in  two  detachments  to  at- 
tack the  enemy's  flanks.     We  succeeded  in  driving 
the  enemy  into  the  woods,  when,  night  coming  on, 
Iputlut^id  to  the  conflict.     Our  loss  was  trifling  i 
1  have  not  ascertained  that  of  the  enemy.     Colonel 
Chapin  is  a  brave  man.     Every  officer  and  soldier 
did  his  duty." 

Col.  Chapin,  in  a  private  letter,  to  a  friend  in 
Buffaloe,  ^hus  details  the  brush  he  had  with 
the  enemy. 

«  While  at  dinner,  I  received  information  of  the 
British  army  being  in  the  town  of  Newark.    I  im^' 

-  mediately  rallied  a  party  of  100  men,  and  commence 
ed  a  fire  upon  them,  who  returned  it  with  much 

^  warmth— we  kept  the  ground  till  we  were  rein- 
foixed  by  60  Indians  and  100  militia,  l^ith  thi^ 
force,  we  compelled  the  enemy  to  retreat,  and  pur*- 
sued  them  one  and  a  half  miles,  when  we  received 
a  reinforcement  of  lOOmen  ;  with  this  force,  we 
strove  {hem  half  a  nrile  farther,  where  they  povered 


#' 


UI»TOBT  OF  THE  WAB. 


tH 


^ered 


themselves  in  a  ravine,  -and  opened  a  most  tremens 
dous  (ire  of  musketiy  upon  us.  After  an  hour  an^ 
a  half  hard  fighting,  we  drove  them  from  the  ra-^ 
vine,  back  to  the  batteries— it  being  now  yearly 
dark,  we  returned  in  good  order. 

"  From  some  deserters,  and  a  prisoner  we  took, 
we  learn,  that  we  had  contended  with  the  whole 
British  army,  consisting  of  I  lOp  menj*  with  the  great 
gen.  Vincent  at  their  head :  aiid  that  we  killed  32. 
Our  loss  was  4,  killed  and  wounded.** 

Mi^r  Chapin  has  recently  been  brevetted 
lieutenant-colonel,  in  the  tTnited  States'  army. 

Gen.  M<Clure,  with  the  New-Tork  miKtia^ 
volunteers  and^  Indians^  succeeded  in  driving  the 
British  army  from  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Oeorge-^ 
and  pursued  them  as  far  as  Twelve-mile-creek. 
Col.  Scott,  who  commanded  at  F^ort  George» 
having  infop.med  gen.  M^Ciure,  that  he  was  un- 
der onleps  to  leave  that  place  with  the  regulars^ 
the  general  was  eompeMed  to  abandon  his  de- 
sign, and  return  to  Fort  George* 

It  was^neral  lVI*Clure*s  wish,  by^  the  aid  of 
the  regular  troops,  to  clear  Upper  Canada  abo^e- 
Kingston  of  the  British  armies,  tty  establish  a 
tenaporary  government^   secure  the  friendship' 
and,  if  necessary,  the  co-operation  of  the  inhab- 
itants, and  compel  the  Indians  to  separate  them- 
selves from  the  enemy,  or  accompany  them  in 
their  retreat.    That  this  could-  be  effected  can* 
scarcely  be  doubted^  but  it  was  necessarily  aban- 
doned in  favor  of  a  design  which  originated  with 
the  general  government,  and  wliieh»  had-  i(;  sue- 
seeded,  would  have  been  more  important^    The 
regulai;  troops  were  principallv  drawn  from  the 
Niagai^a  frontier^  to  co-operate  with  gen.  'Wil- 
kinson in  his  intended  attack  on  Montreal.  Gen* 
Harrison's  army  was  also  ordered  to  Sackett'v 
Harbour.   Gen.  M'CIuve  endeavored  to  influeiMt^ 


■*■ 


XS2 


HIVrORir  09  T^B  VAB. 


gen.  Hurrison  to  aid  him  in  attacking  the  ene- 
my ;  but  the  instruettons  trom  the  general  gov- 
erament  were  positive ;  and  commodore  Chann- 
eey  bad  arrived  with  his  fleet  to  remove  the 
troops  to  Sackett'd  Harbor.  The  ibrce  remain- 
ing with  gen.  M^Ciure,  was  barely  sufficient  to 
defend  Fort  George^  and  entirely  inadequate  to 
offensive  operations  ;-  and  this  foree,  which  thc^ 
general  stated  to  be  •'ungovernable/'  would 
^oon  be  rf;dqced  by  the  expiration  of  their  term 
of  service. 

The  miHtia  returned  to  their  homes^  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  that  were  induced  to  rematw 
beyond  the  term  of  their  enlistment.  The  gene- 
ra fipding  his  force  reduced  to  a  number  inade- 
quate to  defend  his  post»  and  the  enemy  advan- 
ced within  a  few  miles  of  him^he  called  a  coun- 
cil of  officers^  and  put  to  them  the  questiour 
**  Is  the  fort  tenable  with  the  present  number 
of  men  ?".  They  were  imanimoua  in  the  opinion,; 
that  it  was  not  tenable.  The  arms,  ammunition, 
and  public  stores  were  immediately  sent  across 
the  river,  and*  as  a  measure  deemed  necessary 
to  the  safety  of  the  troops,  the  town  of  Newark 
was  burned.  Gen.  M^Clure  justified  this  act, 
on  the  ground  of  an  order  to  that  effect  from 
the  secretary  of  war.  The  inhabitants  had 
twelve  hours*^  notice  to  remove  their  effects*  and 
such  as  chose  to  cross  the  river,  were  provided 
With  all  the  necessaries  of  life. 

Capt.  Leonard  was  left  in  eomurtand  at  Fort 
Kfiagara  with  150  regulars  f  colonel  Grieves, 
with  20  men  and  two  pieces  of  artillery,  was  at 
I^ewistown;  major  Mallory,  with  40  Canadian 
militia,  were  stationed  at  Schlosser;  and  the 
general  went  to  Buffaloe,  to  provide  for  the^ 
iit^ty  of  that  plaee  and  Black  Hook*. 


'&* 


iMf 


BISTORT  OF  THE  1¥AR* 


153 


From  BufTaloe,  general  M'Clure  issued  ai» 
addi^ss  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  eounties  of 
Niagara,  Genesee?  and  Chatague»  apprising 
them  of  the  menaced  irTasion  of  that  frontier^ 
and  calling  on  them  to  repair  to  Lewintowny 
Schlosser,  and  Bufialoi5>  for  tho  purpose  of  de- 
fending their  country  and  home  against  a  bar- 
barous enemy.  This  wab  too  late  to  produce 
the  desired  effect, 

On  the  morning  of  the  Idth  Beoember,  about 
4  o'clock.,  the  enemy,  consisting  of  regulars,  mi- 
li(ia,  and  Indians,  to  the  number,  by  the  most 
probable  account,  of  1500  men,  crossed  the  Ni-  - 
agara  river  at  Five-mile  meadow,  and  advanced 
against  Fort  Niagara,  which  they  completely 
surprised,  entering  it  while  the  men  were  near- 
ly all  asleep,  and  killing,  without  mercy  or  dis- 
crimination, those  who  tumcin  tksir  way.  It 
will  be  recollected,  that  an  attack  on  this  place 
was  expected,  and  that  captain  Leonard,  who 
commanded,  had  directions  accordingly ;  yet 
general  M<Clure  observes,  in  his  official  des-*^ 
patch,  <<  I  am  induced  to  think  that  the  disaster 
is  not  attributable  to  any  want  of  troops,  but  to 
gross  neglect  in  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
fortf  captain  Leonard,  in  not  preparing,  being 
'ready,  and  looking  out  for  the  expected  attack.'' 
It  appears  by  another  letter  from  gen.  M<€lure,. 
'<that  captain  Leonard  was  not  in  the  fort  at  the 
time  of  the  attack,  having  left  it  at  a  late  hour 
the  preceding  evening." 

On  the  same  morning  on  whioh  Niagara  was 
taken,  a  detachment  of  militia  stationed  at 
Lewistown,  under  command  of  major  Bennett 
was  attacked  by  a  strong  party  of  the  enemy» 
but  the  major  and  his  few  men  cut  their  way 
with  great  bravery  thvougU  several  hundreds 


15l» 


HiIBTO&T  OF  TlTB  >VAS. 


of  savi^es  and  others  by  ^hom  they  >vere  8ui*-> 
routiue£  The  villages  oF  Youngstown,  Lewis- 
iovin,  ManchesteTf  the  Indian  Tnsearora  village^ 
and  all  the  intervening  houses,  were  burned^ 
and  many  of  the  inhabitants  inhumanlv  butoher- 
ed»  without  respect  to  age  or  sex,  by  savages 
headed  by  British  officers  pamted.  Major  Mal- 
lory,  who  wa»  stationed  at  Sohlos84*ir,  with  about 
4iO  Canadian  militia,  boldly  advanced  to  Lewis* 
tt'Wn  heights,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  fall 
btiok  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain ;  for  two  days 
the  major  continued  to  resist  the  advai^ite  of  the 
enemy,  disputing  every  inch  of  ground  to  th« 
Tautawanty  o»  sell. 

Major-genrral  HaH,  on  learning  the  danger- 
ous and  exposed  state  of  the  frontier,  hastened 
to  Batavia;  ao^  onthe  morning  of  the  2ad  De> 
cember^  at  the  Teqviest  ef  general  M^Clure, 
took  the  chief  oommand  of  the  men  then  assem- 
bling to  repel  the  enemy.  There  was  a  great 
dieiicienoy  of  ammunition  and  arms.  With  what 
could  be  procured,  the  general  commenced  his 
march  towards  Lewistown  on  the  25th,  having 
under  his  command  150  infantry  under  lieut. 
eol.  Lawrence,  suppoited  by  one  company  of 
c&»f^lry,  under  captain  Marvin,  and  in  the  ex- 
pectation to  join  a  eorps  et  militia,  said  to  bf^ 
300  strong,  under  li<but.  eol.  Alvheson,  whfch 
was  stationed  15  mi\en  east  from  Lewistuwn, 
with  instructions,  if  possible,  to  join  tbc  main 
force  at  Buffaloe.  On  the  morning  of  the  26^b, 
general  HaU  arrived  atHiuruloe,  where  hf  ioiind 
a  eonsideirable  boJy  of  irregular  troops  of  vari- 
ous desoi^Mp-jons,  General  M'Clurc  was  left  in 
command  at  Batavia.  On  the  27th,  the  troops 
at  Buffaloe  arid  Black  Bock  were  reviewed,  and 
found  to  consist;  in  the  aggregate,  including  In- 


f :  "^ 


inSTORY  OV  THE  "WAlt, 


±BS 


diiaBSy  of  1711  men,  which  were  incroiisedy  on 
the  morning  of  the  29th«  by  about  300  men^ 
giving  an  entire  force  of  2011  men ;  but  this 
rorcc  was  soon  reduced,  by  desertion^  to  1200 ; 
and  even  these  so  deficient  in  ammunition,  that 
a  part  of  the  cartridges  were  made  and  distribu- 
ted after  the  men  were  paraded  for  battle  on 
the  morning  of  the  30th. 

In  the  evening  of  the  29(h,  at  12  o'clock,  the 
horse  patrole  had  been  iired  on,  a  short  distance 
below  Conjoktie's  creek,   and  one  mile  below 
Black  Rook.    The    troops  were    immediately 
paraded,  and  stood  by  their  arms.    An  attempt 
was  made  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  Uie  sail> 
ors' battery  near  Conjokties%  of  which  he  had 
obtained     possession.      The    attempt    failed, 
though  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  eonfusiop 
into  which  the  militia  were  thrown  by  the  ene- 
my's iire.    A  second  body  of  militia,  sent  on  the 
same   service,  was  equally  unsuccessful;  the 
men,  after  a  shoft  skirmish,  fled  in  disorder. 
A  third  detachmeo^  was  ordered  on  the  same 
service,  but  was  recalled  to  oppose  a  boby  of 
mep  ^hich  was  discovered,  as  the  day  dawned* 
crossing  the  river.    As  soon  as  the  force  of  the 
enemy  was  ascertaified  to  be  large,  and  com* 
manded  by  lieut.  col.  Drummond,  and  their  por 
sition  reconnoitered,  the  best  possible  dispo- 
sition was  made  to  oppose  them,  with  a  force 
inferior  in  number,  as  it  was  in  experience  and 
ammunitions  of  war.   Oeneral  Hail  thus  briefly 
details  the  efiect : 

<£  The  attack  was  commenced  hy  a  fire  from  out 
six  pounder  under  lieut.  Seely,  bei'>w  general  Por- 
ter's house,  and  one  34  and  two  12  (/ounders  at  the 
battery,  under  command  of  lieut  Faniuro,  of  the 
21  St  U.  S.  infantry )  acting  as  a  voluuteeit.    At  the 


150 


BISTORT  07  TUB   VAX. 


"Same  time  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  from  their 
batteries  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river)  of  shells, 
spherical  i^id  hot  shot)  and  ball.  The  regiment  un- 
der comipand  of  col.  Blakeslie,  about  400  strong, 
were  regtdarly  in  line,  together  with  detached  bo- 
dies from  other  corpS)  amounting)  according  to  th«) 
best  estimate  I  can  niakC)  in  all  about  6()0  men. 
These  few  but  brave  men)  commenced  the  attack 
with  musketry  upon  the  enemy  in  their  boatS)  and 
poured  upon  them  a  most  destructive  fire.  Every 
inch  of  ground  was  disputed  with  the  steady  cool- 
ness  of  veterans,  and  at  the  expense  of  many  valu- 
able lives.  Their  bravery)  at  the  same  time  that  it 
casts  a  lustre  Over  their  names,  reflects  equal  dis- 
grace on  those  who  fled  at  the  first  appearance  of 
dac/gfer— and  whom  neither  intreaties  nor  threats 
could  turn  back  to  the  support  of  their  comrades. 

«  Perceiving  that  the  Indians,  on  whom  I  had  re- 
lied for  attacking  the  enemy's  flank,  were  ofl'ering 
us  no  assistance — and  that  our  right  was  endanger- 
ed by  the  enemy's  left,  I  gave  directions  for  the  re- 
serve, under  command  of  col.  M*Mahan,  to  attack 
the  enemy  in  flank  on  our  right.     But  terror  had 
dissipated  this  corps,  and  but  few  of  them  could  be 
rallied  by  their  officers  and  brought  to  the  attack. 
Of  this  corps  there  are  some  who  merit  well  of 
their  country— but  more  who  covered  themselves 
with  disgrace.    The  defeC^ion  of  the  Indians  and  of 
my  reserve,  and  the  loss  of  the  services  of  the  ca- 
valry and  mounted  men,  by  reason  of  the  nature  of 
the  ground  t>n  which  they  must  act,  left  the  forces 
engaged  exposed  (to  the  enemy's  fire  in  front  and 
flank.     After  standing  their  ground  for  about  one 
half  hour,  opposed  to  veterans  and  highly  discip- 
lined troops,  overwhelmed  by  numbers,  and  nearly 
surrounded,  a  retreat  became  necessary  to   their 
safety,  which  was  accordingly  made.     I  then  made 
every  effort  to  rally  the  troops,  with  a  view  to  re- 
new the  attack  on  the  enemy's  columns,   on  their 
approach  to  the  village  of  Buffaloe.    But^every  ef)- 


fort 
that 
batt] 
bru 
Blev 
ishir 
*  to  th 
ashei 

'  "G« 

whei 

thes( 

tantH 

of  th 

'El 

of  tin 

Home^ 

the  d( 

rnaiiiH 

be  gi( 

onenn 

IJJa 

Sethei 

ofBuf 

r^  buil 

the  I'i^ 

"had 

n  urn  he 

eountr 

cusfoiii 

Imwkir] 

the  per 

<he  vie 

Mrs.  L 

ed  un<I  J 

<5ondiiet 

of the  p 

feoppor, 


HI8T0BT  OF  THE   WAft. 


157 


*/' 


fort  proved  Ineffectual ;.  and  experience  proved 
that  with  militia  V  retreat  becomes  a  flight)  and  a 
battle  once  en(|cdithe  army  is  dissipated.  Deserted 
bjt^ my  principal "iorce,  I  feH  back  that  night  to  the 
'Eleven  mijb  creek)  and  was  forced  to  leave  the  flour- 
ishing vl))a$^8.6f  *Black  Rock  and  BufTaloe,  a  pre/ 
t6  the  enemy)  which  they  have  pillugecl  and  laid  in 
abbes." 

General  flail  retired  to  Eleven  mile  creek» 
where  he  cot lected  about  300  men;  and,  with 
thescf  endeavored  to  cover  the  ileeing  inhabi- 
tantH)  and  make  a  show*  to  prevent  the  advance 
of  the  enemy.  .,       " 

'  Bight  pieces  of^rtillery  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  About  30  men  were  killed,  and 
somewhat  more  than  that  number  ^vounded,  in 
the  defence  of  Black  ifock.  But  th'evvorst  re- 
mains to  be  told,  or  rather  sontf^  faint  idea  tit 
be  given  of  the  indescribable,  barbarity  of  the 
enemy. 

]>Iack  Rock  and  BufTaloe  were  destroyedt  tj(f- 
gether  with  ©very  building  for  two.  miles  eiist 
of  BulfiilOc  on  the  Batavia  road,  and  almost  eve- 
ry building  between  Buffaloe  and  Niagara'along 
the  river.  «»  The  enemy,"  says  general  Ilally 
«  had  with  him  at  Black  Rock  and  Buffuloe.  a 
number  of  Indians,  (the  general  opinion  in  that 
country  is  about  200,)  who  pursued  their  ac- 
eustomcd  mode  of  horrid  warfaie,  by  toma- 
hawking, scidping,  and  otherwise  mutiiftfing 
the  persons  who  fell  into  their  hands.  Au>ong 
the  victims  of  their  savage  l&>arhari^y,  was  a 
Mrs.  Lov4»joy,  of  BufTaloe,  who  wit^a  ronvals'  ,\  k- 
ed  and  afterwards  burnt  in  her  own  house.  '\  he 
conduct  of  these  savages  has  struck  the  mittds 
of  the  people  on  the  Niagara  frontier  with  sJK*h 
korror>  as  to  liiake  it  absolutely  ne«es«ary^  that 

o 


15S 


HISTOQT   07   THE   WAS. 


'*y 


f|  more  efficient  force  than  tlio  ovdhiary  militia 
of  the  country,  should  be  einplojred  for  its  pro- 
tectionyto  prevent  its  becoming  •epitirely  depo- 
pulated." ^' 

All  thQ  settlements  of  a  populous  oiDuntry,  40 
miles  square,  were  completely  j^'okoii  up,  and 
12,000  persons  sent  as  if  into  bep^gafy.  The 
tomahawk  and  bayonet  deprived  parents  of  their 
children,  and  children  of  their  parents  ;  the  sil^ 
vages  white  and  red,  who  acted  not  merely  as 
conquerors,  but  as  murderers  and  robbers,  by  a 
fell  swoop,  pounced  upon  their  prey  with  the 
ferocity  of  the  tyger  and  the  all-desolating  ruin 
of  the  locust.  On  the  4th  January  the  robbers 
ret^i;ed  into  their  own  woods,  not  daring  to  wait 
the  chastisement  that  was  prepared  for  them. 

Considerahle  contributions  of  money  were 
collected  for  the  relief  of  the  surviving  suffer- 
ers, who  gradually  returned  to  view  the  smok- 
ing ruins  of  their  late  habitations. 

The  enemy  having  declared  their  conduct  on 
the  Niagarfi  frontier,  to  have  been  committed 
in  retaliation  for  excesses  said  to  have  been 
commteted  by  the  American  armies  in  Canada, 
the  cOnsure,  or  rather  indignation  of  the  suffer- 
ing inhabitants  were  turned  against  general 
|il*Clure,who  had  the  command.  The  general, 
previous  to  retiring  from  command,  published 
an  address  to  the  public,  in  justification  of  his 
own  •conduct,  in  which  he  seems  to  have  been 
pretty  successful.  M*Clure  was  certainly  a 
good  and  zealous  soldier ;  ever  ready  to  obey 
his  superiors,  he  exacted  obedience  fi^om  those 
who  were  placed  under  his  command ;  he  knew 
that  strict  discipline  was  essential  to  form  the 
practical  soldier;  and  he  probably  suffered  in 
the  esteem  of  some  because  he  pursued  a  system 


UISToAt   of  TUE  IVAH. 


159 


fiiom  which  he  <;oi|h1  not  depart  witliout  a'crimoy 
that  migfht  stQiinp  him  with  indclililo  disgrace. 

While  thhii^'were  thus  progressing  on  land, 
tiie  British  ivere  preparing  a  naval  force  for  the 
Bnno,ya\)(ee  of  the' citizens  on  the  sea-hoard. 

AdihtnilAVtftTen  arrived  At  Uftlifax  on  the 
fttth  September,  1812 ;  and  faHving  attempted 
in  Tain  to  deceive  the  American  government 
i^ith  false  professions  of  a  pacific  intention^  he 
proceeded,  in  January,  off  New- York. 

£ar]y  in  February,  1813,  the  Chesapeake  bay 
s\pd  Delaware  river  were  blockaded. 

The  British  fleet  continued  in  the  bay  and 
rivers  connected  therewith.  Tlieir  transac- 
tions, for  the  gro*ater-part,  form  a  history  of 
petty  landings^  wherever  no  considerable  fOroe 
could  be  opposed  to  them,  burning  or  taking 
every  vessel  that  came  within  tlieir  power, 
plundering  the  inhabitants  adjacent  to  the  wa- 
ters, burning  houiscs,  and  insulting,  in  the  most 
libidinous  manner,  those  females^  who  did  nbt, 
or  could  not  flv  from  them.  The  following  de- 
serve particular  record. 

A  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a' copy, 
was  sent  to  Lewistown,  in  the  state  of  Dela- 
ware, on  the  16th  March,  1813. 

«  Sir, — As  soon  as  you  receive  this,  I  must  re- 
quest you  will  send  ttventij  live  bullocks,  with  a  pro- 
portionable quantity  of  vegetables  and  hay,  to  the 
Poi'ctiers,  Ifor'the  use  of  his   Britannic  majesty's 
isquadron  now  at  this  anchorage,  which  shall  be  im- 
mediately paid  for  at  the  Philadelphia  prices.     Tf 
you  refuse  to  comply  with  ttiiiH  request,  I  shall  be 
under  the  necessity  of  destroying  your  toivn. 
I  have  the  hono*^  to  be,  sir,  vour  ob't  servant, 
J.  P.  BERESFORD,  Commodore, 
commanding  the  British  squadron  in 
the  mouth  of  the  Delaware. 

"  The  first  magistrate  ofLeivistowtiJ* 


l&O 


HISTORY  OF  Tlfla  WAR. 


The  majjjistrate  transmitted  thP*  letter  to  g<iv- 
ernor  Haslet,  who  sent  a  repl.y^  to  the  admiral 
on  the  23d,  eoncludinjs;  in  the  following  words  : 
<*  I  have  onlt^  to  ohserve  to  you,  that  a  coniipli- 
ance  would  he  an  immediate  violation  of  the 
laws  of  my  eountry,  and  an  eternal  sitigma  on 
the  nation  of  which  I  am  a  citizen.  A  compli- 
ance, therefore,  cannt;!  he  acceded  to." 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th  April,  the  Belvide- 
ra  and  two  small  vessels  came  close  into  Lewi», 
and  commenced  an  attack  by  firing  severjil  32lh. 
shot  into  the  town,^ which  have  heeji  picked  up; 
after  which  a  fl^  was  sent,  to  whicli:  the  fol- 
lowing reply  v  as  returned. 

"Sir,-— In  reply  to  the  renewal  of  your  demand, 
with  the  addition  for  a"  supply  of  water,"  1  have  to 
inform  you  that  neither  can  be  complied  with.  This, 
too,  you  muBt  be  sensible  of;  therefore  I  must  in- 
sist the  att!ick  on  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  is. both 
wanton  and  cruel.  I  have  the.  honor  to  be,  your 
ir.oiit  obedient  servant, 

<'  S.  B.  DAVIS,  Col.  Comjnandant." 

Another  message  was,  sent,  in  which  the  Brit- 
ish captain  Byron,  among  othejr*  matter,  wrote, 
"  I  grieve  for  the  distress  of  the  women" — to 
whieli  a  verbal  reply  was  given,  "  That  colonel 
Davis  is  ^  gallant  man,  and  has  already  taken 
care  of  the  ladies." 

The  attack  continued  till  near  10  o'clock. 
The  firing  was  kept  up  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  following  day.  One  pf  the  most  danger- 
ous of  their  j^'un-boats  was  silenced  ])y  the  firo 
from  a  small  battery.  The  enemy  withdrew  on 
the  8th,  after  firing  on  Lewis  for  22  hours,  with 
little  efiect,  and  without  accomplishing  his  ob- 
ject. 

In  their  progress  up  the  bay,  the  Bntish 


.%■ 


<^ 


»-    fifi  * 


t   , 


HISTORY  OF  THE   YfXn,  161 

landed  at  Frc^irichtown  on  the  Elk  river,  and 
Ijurned  the  store  houses,  destroying  or  carry- 
ing away  all  the  public  and  private  property 
which  they  contained. 

From  Frenchtown,  the  enemy  proceeded  to 
Havre  de  Grace,  a  nourishing  little  village  on 
the  Susquehannah,  where  they  landed,  in  con- 
siderable force,  on  the  od  of  May,  and  proceed- 
ed to  plunder  and  burn  with  a  savageness  that 
required  but  the  use  of  the  seal  ping- knife,  to. 
outrival  their  red  allies.  Twenty-four  of  the 
best  houses  in  the  town  were  burned,  and  the 
others  plundered.  A,  small  party  of  militia 
were  stationed  at  JIavre  de  Grace,  who,  on  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  made  a  slight  resist- 
ance, and  then  retreated.  An  Irishman,  named 
0*NeiI,  with  a  counage  amounting  to  rashness, 
and  an  enthusiasm  not  confined  by  co!d  loyalty, 
opposed  his  single  arm  to  the  British  host,  was 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  on  board  the  British 
fleet,  but  afterwards  released  on  parole. 

His  countrymen,  residing  in  Philadelphia^ 
presented  the  brave  0»Neil  with  a  sword. 

From  Havre  de  Grace,  the  enoijiy  proceeded 
further  up  the  river,  and  burned^  warehouse 
belonging  to  Mr.  Stump,  and  a  furnace  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Hughes,  at  Princippi. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4<th,  the  eii^^my  evacu- 
ated Havre  do  Grace,  and  proceeded  down  tlie 
bay. 

The  next  exploit  of  the  enemy  was  the  burn- 
ing of  the  unprotected  villages  of  Frederick  and 
Georgetown ;  the  former  in  Cecil  county,  the 
latter  in  Kent  county,  opposite  each  other  on 
the  Sassafras  river,  in  the  statc.of  Maryland. 

The  movements  of  the  enemy  on  the  20th 
June,  having  indicated  a  design  to  attack  Nor- 

o2 


162 


HISTORY   OF  THE   WAR, 


»«i- 


folk,  which  place  was  then  ill  prepared  fof  ih 
fence,   captain  TarbcM,   (indinj!;  Crane^  Island 
rather  weak  manned,  directed  licirtenadts Neale» 
Shiibnck,  and  Sanders,  with  100  seamen,  to  a 
small  battery  at  the  N.  \V.  point  of  the  island. 
At  6  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  en- 
emy was  discovered  landing  round  the  point  of 
Kuisemond   river,  a  force,  reported  by  desert- 
ers and  others,  to  exceed  3000  men ;  at  8,  A.  M. 
the  barges  attempted  to  land,   in  front  of  the 
island,  an  additional  force  of  1500>  when  lieuts. 
Keule,  Shubrick>  and  Sanders,  with  the  sailors 
under  their  command,  and  the  marines  of  the 
€o!iste]Iation  frigate,  150  in  niimber^  opened  a 
fiiX^  which  was  so  well  directed,  that  the  enemy 
was  obliged  to  retreat  to  his  ships.    Three  of 
his  largest  barges  were  sunl^;  one  of  them,  call- 
ed the  Centipede,   admiral  Warren's  boat,   50 
feet  in  length,  carried  7  B  men,  the  greater  part 
of  whom  were  lost.     Several  of  the  boats  fell 
back,  in  the  rear  of  the  island,  and  eommenecd 
throwing  rockets  from  Mr.  Wise's  houses;  but 
they  werp  quickly  compelled  to  move   off,  by 
the  shot  directed  to  that  quarter,  from  gun-boat 
No.  67.  In  the  evening,  the  enemy's  boats  eame 
round  the  poiiit  of  Nansemond,  and,  at  sunset» 
Were  seen  returning  to  their  ships,  full  of  men. 
At   dusk,  the,%  strewed  the  shore  along  with 
fires,  in  order  to  run  away  by  the  light. 

The  British  troops,  that  were  previously 
Ia'!)i<K  d,  made  tT&^ir  appearance  on  the  mainland; 
Wfih  a  view  to  attack  the  west  and  north  po- 
sitions of  the  island,  but  with  no  better  success 
than  attended  the  men  in  the  boats.  Two  24j 
poanders  and  fqur  6  pounders  were  advantage- 
ously posted,  under  the  direction  of  major Faul- 
kener,  of  the  artillery^  which  were  sa  well  serv- 


:i-' 


BISTOKT  OT  THE  WAR. 


iBS 


6(1  by  captaiQ  Emerson,  lietitenants  Ilawl  and 
Godwin,  that  they  produced  a  serious  effect  oa 
the  enemy*  who  was  soon  compelled  to  retreat. 

Opposed  to  the  large  British  force,  there  were 
but  a  few  hundred  militia  and  artillerists ;  there 
Mere  mounted  on  the  island  not  more  than  eight 
pieces  of  cannon  that  could  be  brought  to  bear 
on  the  enemy.  «  The  officers  of  the  Constella- 
tion," according  to  the  official  report  of  com. 
Cassin,  "fired  their  18  pounder  more  like  rifle- 
men than  artillerists." — This  defence  did  great 
honor  to  the  few  Americans  who  were  engaged. 
!N[orfolk  was  an  important  post^  and  the  enemy 
determined  on  its  occupation;  the  force  sent 
against  it  was  large :  admiral  Cockburn  com- 
manded in  person,  and  was  in  one  of  the  barges, 
encouraging  the  men  to  advance.  Some  Frencli 
deserters  reported,  that  a  large  bounty  was  ta 
be  given  to  the  men  in  the  event  of  success,  and 
that  it  wa»  promised  to  them,  that  J>rorfolk 
would  he  given  up  to  be  plundered,  '* 

The  loss  of  the  enemy  could  not  be  less  than 
200,  exclusive  of  several  deserters ;  %%  prison^ 
ers  were  taken ;  also  a  brass  3  pounder,  with  a 
number  of  small  arms,  pistols,  cutlasses,  &e. 

Not  a  man  was  lost  on  the  side  of  the  Ameri» 
cans;  the  enemy  used  only  Congreve  rockets. 

On  the  25th  June,  between  30  and  40  barges 
were  discovered,  filled  with  men,  approachmg 
the  mouth  of  Hampton  creek,  from  the  direc- 
tion of  Newport's  Noose.  The  American  troops 
were  ^quickly  formed  on  Little-England  plantar 
lion,  south-west,  and  divided  from  Hampton  by 
a  narrow  creek,  6ver  which  a  slight  foot  bridge 
had  been  erected.  la  a  shoi*t  time,  the  enemy 
eommenoed  landing  troops  in  rear  of  the  Ameri- 
ecms*    A  little  after  5  o'clock^  A.  M«  several 


164* 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


barges  approached  Black-beard's  Point,  tho 
headmost  of  >vhich  commenced  a  firing  of  round 
shot,  >vhich  was  returned  from  a  small  butterj 
ot  four  long  12  pounders.  The  entire  of  the 
force  landed  b^  the  enemy,  consisted  of  at  least 
2500  men,  supported  by  several  iield-pieces,  and 
some  heavy  guns,  and  rockets ;  the  American 
troops  were  composed  of  349  infantry  and  rille, 
62  artillerists,  and  25  cavalry.  This  little  force 
made  the  most  judicious  and  best  defence  that 
was  practicable,  mancsuvring  and  disputing  eve- 
ry ineh  of  ground.  The  contest  was  at  one  time 
very  sharp,  and  was  maintained  with  a  resolu- 
tion that  left  hope  of  repelling  the  invaders ; 
but  the  enemy,  being  very  numerous,  attempted 
to  6i!itflank  and  cut  off  the  Americans,  when 
part  of  the  latter  began  to  disperse  in  various 
directions.  It  now  became  indispensably  neces- 
sary for  all  the  Americans  to  i*etire,  which  they 
did  under  a  continued,  but  ill-directed  lire,  from 
the  enemy,  who  pursued  them  for  two  miles. 
The  Americans  occasionally  stopped  »t  a  fence 
or  ditch,  and  at  every  tire  brought  down  one  of 
the  pursuing  foe. 

.  .Capt.  Pry  or,  with  his  lieutenants  Lively  and 
Jones,  and  his  brave,  active  matrosses,  after 
slaughtering  many  of  the  enemy  with  his  field 
pieces,  remained  on  the  ground  till  surrounded 
—and  when  the  enemy  was  within  60  or  70 
yards  of  the  fort,  they  spiked  their  guns,  broke 
through  the  enemy's  rear,  and,  by  switnming  a 
creek,  made  good  their  retreat  without  losing  a 
man,  taking  with  them  their  carbines,  and  hid- 
ing them  in  the  woods. 

The  American  loss  was  7  killed,  16  wounded^ 
of  whom,  2  died  of  their  wounds,  1  prisoner  and 
11  missing.    The  enemy  took  possession  of  the 


villi 
the 
men 

JVI 
mer 

lOM 


HISTORY   OF  THE   WXUt 


i6B 


U 

lie 


village  of  TIainpton,  after  suifcring  a  loss,  by 
the;  most  probable  calculation,  of  at  least  200 
men* 

Major  Crutcbfield,  who  commanded  the  A- 
mericuns,  states  the  enemy's  conduct,  in  the  fol- 
low ing  extract,  from  his  official  report  : 

<*  To  give  you,  sir,  an  idea  of  the  savage  like  dis- 
position of  the  enemy,  on  their  getting  possession 
of  the  neighborhood,  would  be  a  vain  attempt.  Al- 
though Sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  assured  me,  that  no 
uneasiness  need  be  felt  in  relation  to  the  unfortu- 
nate Americans  ;  the  fact  is,  that  yesterday  there 
were  9ev<!ral  dead  bodies  lying  unburied,  and  the 
wounded  not  even  assisted  into  town,  although  ob- 
served to  be  crawling  through  the  fields  towards  a 
cold  and  inhospitable  protection. 

**  The  unfortunate  females  of  Hampton,  who  could 
not  leave  the  town,  were  abused  in  the  most  shame- 
ful  manner;  not  only  by  the  soldiers,  but  by  the  ve- 
nal savage  blacks,  who  were  encouraged  in  their  ex- 
cesses. They  pillaged,  and  encouraged  every  act 
of  rapine  and  murder,  killing  a  poor  man  !>y  the 
nameofKerby,  who  hud  been  lying  on  his  I:-d,  at 
the  point  of  death,  for  more  than  six  weeks,  shoot- 
ing his  wife  in  the  hip  at  the  same  time,  and  kiiA!n|; 
his  faithful  dog,  lying  under  his  feet.  The  murde:!^* 
ed  Kerby  was  lying  last  night  weltering  in  his  bed/* 

A  committee  of  congress,  in  a  report  to  the 
house,  thus  notice  this  transaction. 

«  The  shrieks  of  the  innocent  victims  of  infernal 
lust  at  Hampton,  were  heard  by  the  American  pri- 
soners, but  were  too  weak  to  reach  the  ears  or  dis- 
turb the  repose  of  the  British  officers,  whose  duty, 
as  men,  required  them  to  protect  evrry  female 
whom  the  fortune  of  war  had  throwft"in(o  their  pow- 
er. The  committee  will^not  dwell  on  this  hateful 
subject  Human  language  affords  no  terms  strong; 
enough  to  express  tlie  emotions  which  the  examU 


■!*i 


7(1 

/  Ji 


166 


niSTOBT  Ot  THE  VfAU, 


nation  of  this  evidence  has  awakened  ;  they  rejoice 
that  these  ac(.s  have  appeared  so  incredible  to  the 
American  people.  And,  for  the  honor  of  human 
nature,  they  deeply  regret,  that  the  evidences  so 
clearly  establish  their  truth.  In  the  correspondence 
between  the  commander  of  the  American  and  Bri- 
tish forces,  will  be  found  what  is  equivalent  to  an 
admission  of  the  facts,  by  the  British  commander.'* 

The  enemy  soon  evacuated  Hampton,  and  re- 
treated to  his  shipping,  to  avoid  the  punish- 
ment, i^hich,  had  he  remained,  would  have  soon 
been  inflicted.  The  following  extract  of  a  let- 
ter from  capt.  Cooper,  to  the  lieut.  governor  of 
Virginia,  is  proof  of  shocking  barbarity  which 
would,  disgrace  the  savage  of  the  wilderness. 

<*  I  was  yesterday  in  Hampton  with  my  troop — ^- 
that  place  having  been  evacuated  in  the  morning  by 
the  British.  My  blood  ran  cold  at  what  I  saw  and 
heard.  The  few  distressed  inhabitants  running  up 
in  every  direction  to  congratulate  us  ;  tears  were 
shedding  in  every  corner— the  infamous  scoundrels, 
monsters,  destroyed  every  thing  but  the  houses, 
and,  (my  pen  is  almost  unwilling  to  describe  it)  the 
women  were  ravished  by  the  abandoned  ruffians- 
Great  God  !  My  dear  fdend,  can  you  figure  to  your- 
self, our  Hampton  females,  seized  and  treated  with 
violence  by  those  monsters,  and  not  a  solitary  Ame- 
rican arm  present  to  avenge  their  wrongs  !  But  e- 
nough— -I  can  no  more  of  this;  The  enemy  have 
received  a  reinforcement  of  2l0OO — in  all,  6000  men; 
and  Norfolk  or  Richmond  is  their  immediate  aim. 
Protect  yourselves  from  such  scenes  as  we  have 
witnessed.  They  retired  in  great  confusion,  leav- 
ing 3000  weight  of  beef,  some  muskets,  ammuni- 
tion, canteens,  8cc.  and  some  of  their  men,  ^yhich 
we  took.  It  is  supposed  that  they  apprehended  an 
immediate  attack  from  60^9  of  our  men,  which  caus- 
ed them  to  retreat  so  preripitately.  My  friend,  rest 
assured  of  one  thing — that  they  cannot  conquer  A- 


\ 


:>fL 


HISTORY  QI  THE   WAR. 


±67 


mericans— .they  cannot  stand  them.  li  we  had  had 
1 200  men,  we  should  have  Killed  or  taken  the  grea- 
ter part  o/  them." 

Ill  t'urdier  ppoof  of  these  enormities,  the  fol- 
lowing extract  is  given,  from  theletter  of  agen- 
tlemai)  of  gi*eat  respectability. 

«  At  present  you  must  content  yourself  with  the 
following,  and  Ae*«Vr<?  it  as  religiously  q^t.  any  fact 
beyond  denial.  Mrs.  TurnbuU  was  pursued  up  to' 
her  wuist  in  the  water,  and  dragged  on  shore  by  10 
or  13  of  these  ruffians,  who  satiuted  their  brutal  de- 
sires upon  her,  after  pulling  off  her  clothes, 'Stock* 
ings,  shoes.  Sec.  Thj^s  fact  was  seen  by  your  ne- 
phew Keith,  and  many  others,.  Another  case — a 
married  woman,  her  name  unknown  to  me,  with  her 
infant  child  in  her  arms  (the  child  forcibly  dragged 
from  her}  shared  the  same  fat*.  Two  young  wo- 
men, well  known  to  many,  whose  names  will  not 
be  revealed  a/  this  time,  suffered  in  like  manner.*— 
Dr.  Colton,  Parson  Halsori,  and  Mrs.  Hopkins,  iiave 
informed  me  of  these  particulars— another,  in  the 
presence  of  Mr.  Hope,  had  her  gown  cut  off  with 
a  sword,  and  violence  offered  in  his  presence,  which 
he  endeavored  tc  prevent,  but  had  to  quit  the  room, 
leaving  the  unfortunate  victim  in  their  possession, 
who,  no  d  jubt,  was  abused  in  the  same  way. 

«01d  Mr.  Hope  himself  was  stripped  naked, prick- 
ed with  a  bayonet  in  the  arn  ,  and  slapt  in  the  face— 
and  were  I  vo  mention  a  hundred  cases  in  addition 
to  the  above,  I  do  not  know  that  I  should  exagge- 
rate." 

Admiral  Cocklnirn  is  the  redoybtable  hero^ 
-wiio  commanded  the  enemy  in  the  manly  attack 
on  Hampton. f 

t  James  O'Boyle,  an  Irishman,  residing  at  Pagh* 
town  in  Virginia,  offered  a  reward  of  1,000  dollars, 
for  <he  head  of  "  the  notorious  incendiary,  and  in- 
famous scoundrel,  and  violater  of  all  laws,  human 
and  divine,  the  British  admiral  Cockburn,"  or  500 
dollars  for  each  of  his  ears. 


^-S 


v'fflV' 


168 


mSTOBT   Of^THE   WAS. 


f<B 


On  the  26tli  June,  three  of  the  enemy's  har- 
ges  attcriiipletl  to  outer  Pagan  creek,  but  were 
resisted  by  a  detachment  of  militia ;  ."tnd  after 
exchanging  14  shot,  without  effect  on  either 
side,  the  enemy  retired. 

The  enemy  h:\d  such  total  commar.'d  of  ^I;o 
water  ^ftl-  Cli  ^sapeal^e.  an^l  thejiivers  falling 
IvXo  kl  ''  '  5Vti' the  same  were  without*  the 
rang«  oji  ;  ;>>  from  the  shore  ;  jfhd  hfs  move- 
ments we  j  c  so  V  fous,  that  a  general  alarm  was 
excited  in  the  neighborhood  of  these  waters  ; 
the  troops  were  necessarily^  kept  embodied,  and 
moving  in  a  manner,  which  occasioned  distres- 
sing and  harrassing  difficullies.  I'he  fate  of 
the  females^  at  Hampton,  excited  an  indignation, 
and  roused  a  patriotism  and  a  love  of  family 
kindred,  which  stifled  all  complaints  among  (he 
harrassed  soldiery  of  Virginia  and  Maryland — 
<*  Hampton"  was  a  watch-word,  at  which  every 
husband,  father,  brother  and  man,  took  his  gun 
and  fled,  with  willingness,  to  meet  the  ruffians, 
who  threatened,  with  worse  than  murder,  the 
fair  daughters  of  America.    - 

It  would  scarcely  be  interesting  to  detail  eve- 
ry petty  landing,  skirmish  and  adventure,  that 
occurred,  while  the  enemy  remained  in  the 
Chesapeake — the  most  conspicuous  of  them  w  111^ 
however,  he  detailed. 

A  party  of  the  enemy  landed  a  litlle  below 
James-Town,, on  the  zd  July  J^but  were  repuls- 
ed by  the  militia.  Two  of  the  enemy  were 
killed  ;  two  taken,  and  several  Wounded.  The 
militia  suffered  no  loss. 

On  the  14th  July,  the  U.  S.  schooner  Asp, 
was  attacked  in  Yocimo  river,  by  the  crews  of 
2  brigs,  who  put  off  in  their  boats,  for  that  pur- 
pose.   The  boa/s^  3  in  number^  were  beaten  off 


bu. 


J^BTORT  aV  THE  WAM. 


169 


'i:o 


low 

Ills- 

B^ere 

The 


by  the  well  directed  fire  from  the  Asp  5  about  an 
hmw  after,  ihe  boats  returred,  with  two  other 
beats,  \v  ell  manned.  The;  e  were  but  21  men  on 
bu..!'d  the  Asp,  and  the}  could  not  ettectutrily  re- 
sist the'  gre»  t  force  sent  against  them  ;  th^y, 
ho'vev'^i',  deiiended  tlie'mselves  obstinately  and 
bravely  ;  nor  did  they  retreat  until  after  the 
Asp  was  boarded  by  more  than  50  of  the  ene- 
my. The  enemy  set  the  vessel  on  fire.  After 
their  retreat,  the  survivors  of  the  brave  Ameri- 
can crew,  went  on  b  lard  and  extinguished  the 
flames.  The  American  loss  in  killed  and  wound- 
ed, amounted  to  10  men.  Mr.  Sigourney,  th«^: 
intrepid  commander  of  the  Asp^  was  among  tte 
killed. 

Some  cssayt^  published  by  the  late  Robe^  C 
Fulton,  on  the  practicability  of  destroying  ships 
by  torpedoes*  induced  several  persons  to  tiu-n 
their  thoughts  to  this  subject.  A  Mr.  Mix,  of 
^  the  navy,  accompanied  by  captain  BowuKin.  of 
Salem,  and  midshipman  M<Gowan,  essayed  to 
destroy  the  ship  of  war,  Plantagenet,  of  74 
guns,  lying  in  Lynnhaven  Bay.  For  this  pur- 
pose, they  proceeded  in  a  boat,  in  ihe  n'ght  of 
the  24th  July  ;  and,  having  iH^ached  wivhin  100 
yards  of  the  ship,  dropped  the  torj)edo.  It  was 
swept  along  by  the  tide,  but  exploded  a  few  se- 
conds before  it  would  have  come  in  contact  with 
the  vessel.  It  produced  great  eonsternatian  UTid 
confusion  on  board  the  vessel,  and  induced  seve- 
ral of  the  crew  to  iake  td  their  boats.  The 
ship  was  greatly  agitated,  and  some  damage 
done  by  the  violent  motion  of  the  water.  Tlie 
noise,  occasioned  by  the  explosion,  vas  loud  and 
tremendous;  and  the  appearance  of  the  water, 
thrown  up  in  a  column  of  30  or  40  feet  high, 

p 


iro 


BISTORT  OV  THE  WAR. 


awfully  sublime.    It  has  not  been  ascertained 
that  any  lives  were  lost. 

The  fleet)  under  command  of  admiral  Cocfc- 
buni/returned  to  the  Chesapeake  on  the  16th 
July,  after  an  invasion  of  North-Carolina,  where 
the  country  was  pillaged  and  laid  waste  by  the 
enemy,  for  several  miles.  On  the  12th,  a  part 
of  this  fleet,  consisting  of  two  74'8,  3  frigates, 
and  3  schooners,  appeared  ofi^  Ocraeock  bar, 
in  North-Carolina,  and  immediately  despatch- 
ed, in  boats,  between  700  and  800  men,  who  at- 
tacked the  privateer  Anaconda,  and  schooner 
Atlas,  lying  inside  the  bar.  There  were  but 
18  men  on  board  the  Anaconda,  who  resisted 
the,  boats  as  long  as  they  could,  until  finding 
that  the  vessel  must  be  taken,  they  discharged 
the  guns  into  the  hull ;  but  the  enemy  bearded 
her  in  time  to  plug  the  holes.  The  Atlas,  and 
some  small  craft,  were  captured.  The  enemy 
took  possession  of  Ocraeock,  and  of  the  town^, 
of  Portsmouth,  without  op^iosition. 

Mrs.  Gaston,  of  Newbern,  wife  of  the  mem- 
ber of  congress,  being  told  that  the  British  had 
landed,  and  would  shortly  be  in  passessicn  of 
Newbern,  fell  into  convulsive  fits,  and  expired 
in  a  few  hours.  Mrs.  Curtis  died  in  a  similar 
manner,  and  a  Mrs.  Shepherd  was  at  the  point 
of  death,  but  has  recovered.  Apprehen«ions  of 
being  treated  like  the  unfortunate  females  of 
Hampton,  it  is  supposed,  produced  this  extraor- 
dinary degree  of  terror.  A  large  body  of  mili- 
tia and  volunteers  were  assembled  in  tlie  vicin- 
ity of  Portsmouth,  and  on  the  point  of  attack- 
ing the  enemy,  when  he  thought  prudent  to  re- 
tire. 

Lieut.  Angus  commanding  the  Delaware  flo- 
tilla^ having  di8eoYered>  on  the  27th  July,  that 


tflSTORT  OT  Tnl  WARi 


17i 


flo- 
ihat 


the  enemy  had  chased  and  taken  a  small  vesseh 
near  the  Overralls,  got  upder  VfAy,  and  stood 
for  the  enemy.  A.t  the  distance  of  about  three 
miarters  of  a  miic,)ie  brought  the  enemy's  sloop 
V  war  to  action,  having  anchored^  for  that  pur. 
fSose,  8  gun-boats  and  2  blook-ships>  in  a  line 
ahead.  A  heavy  British  frigate  had,  by  this 
time,  anchored  about  half  a  mile  fui*ther  out  -i. 
After  a  cannonade  of  one  hour  and  45  minutes^ 
in  which  the  enemy  received  several  shot,  with- 
out any  material  damage  done  to  the  flotilla^ 
lie  manned  his  boats,  10  m  number,  (2  launches, 
the  rest  large  barges1andputtei*s')  with  bet wccm' 
30  and  40  men  in  each,  and  despatched  them  af- 
ter gun-boat  Nq.  1^1,  sailing-master  Shead, 
whieh  had  fallen  a  mile  and  a  half  out  of  the 
line,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  her,  after  a 
gallant  resistance.  The  enemy  would  have 
been  totally  defeated,  had  he  not  been  favored 
by  a  calm,  which  enabled  him  to  carry  off  the 
gun-boat  No.  121,  the  colors  of  which  were  not 
struck  until  after  being  boarded.  Xhe  sound  of 
cannon,  on  this  occasion,  was  heard  at  the  city 
of  Washington,  a  distance  of  120  miles. 

Sailing-master  Shead  concludes  his  official 
report  in  the  following  words  : 

"  I  found  it  necessary,  for  the  preservation  of  those 
few  valuable  lives  left,  to  surrender  to  seven  times 
our  number  ;  the  f  nemy  boarding,  loaded  our 
decks  with  men  ;  we  were  all  driven  below,  and  it 
was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  the  officers  could 
stay  the  revenge<  of  the  seamen,  who  seemed  to 
thirst  for  blood  and  plunder,  the  last  of  which  they 
had,  by  robbing  us  of  every  thing  ;  ,  we  had  none 
killed,  but  7  wounded,  5  slightly.  The  enemy's 
loss,  by  us,  was  7  killed  and  i3  wounded,  4  of  which 
have  since  died.  They  have  conquered  me,  but 
th^  have  paid  dearly  for  it,  and  I  trust,  sir,  when 


179 


HISTORY   OP  THE    WAR.       • 


jtou  come  to  virw  the  disadvantages  that  I  laboureif 
under,  having  been  byt  7  days  on  board  my  boatt 
and  scarcely-  time  to  station  my  men,  and  the  mis- 
fiortune  of  entirely  disabling  m^  gun,  and  the  supe- 
riority of  numbers  to  appose  me  ;  you  will  be  cotjP^ 
yinced  that  the  flag  I  had  the  honor  to  wear,  has  noP 
lost  any  of  that  national  character  vrhich  has  ever 
lieen  attached  to  it*" 

It  HI  painful  to  tlie  historian^  tl^t  while  ht 
records  the  many  instances  of  virtuous  pairiot- 
Um  and  glorious  prowess,  which  sfgnalized  tlid 
•itizens  and  inhabitants  of  the  United  States,  it 
hecoines  also  his  duty  to 'record  their  crimes 
and  treasons.  Much  consolation  isu  however, 
derived  from  the  reileetioq^  thsit  patriotism  was 
th^' prevailing  sentimetit  of  a  great  majority  of 
the  people.  The  following  general  order  was 
published,  and  dated  from  <the  navy  department^ 
at  the  city  of  Washington  ;  and  sent*  as  a  cir- 
oular^tothe  commanding  officers  of  stations^ 
or  vessels  of  the  navy  of  the  United  States. 

«  The  palpable  and  criminal  intercourse  held 
with  the  enemy'^8  forces,  blockading  «nd  invading 
the  waters  and  shores  of  the  United  States,  is,  in  a 
military  view,  an  offence  of  so  deep  a  die,  as  to  call 
for  the  vigilant  interposition  oi  cM  the  paval  ofBicei-s 
of  the  United  States. 

«  This  intercourse  is  not  only  carried  on  by  fo- 
reigners, under  the  specious  garb  of  friendly  flugs, 
,  who  convey  provisions,  water,  and  succours  of  all 
kinds,  (ostensibly  destined  for  friendly  ports,  in  the 
face,  too,  of  a  declared  and  rigorous  blockade)  m- 
rect  to  the  fleets  and  stations  of  the  enemy,  with 
constant  intelligence  of  our  naVal  and  military  force 
and  preparation,  and  the  means  of  continuing  and 
conducting  the  invasion  to  the  greatest  possible  an- 
noyance of  the  country  ;  but  the  same  traffic,  inter- 
'Qourse,  and  intelligence,  is  oarried  on  wjth  %v^t 


subti 

in  v 

port 

stanc 

vey 

lude 

inter! 


UlSTOBT   OT  THB  WAll» 


f 


iJf 


subtilty  and  trdachery>  by  profligate  citizens,  vrho^ 
in  ve»BeU  ostensibly  navigating  our  waters*  from 
port  to  port,  under  cover  of  nighty  or  other  circum- 
stances favoring  their  turpitude,  find  means  to  con- 
vey succours  or  intelligence  to  the  enemy,  and  e- 
lude  the  penalty  of  the  law.  This  lawless  trade  and 
intercourse  is  also  carried  on  to  a  great  extent,  in 
craft,  whose  capacity  exempts  them  from  the  rcgu« 
lations  of  the  revenue  laws,  and  from  the  vigilance 
which  vessels  of  greater  capacity  attract. 

**  F  am,  therefore,  commanded  by  the  president  of 
the  United  States,  to  enjoin  and  direct  all  nuval 
commanding  officers,  to  exercise  the  strictest  vigi- 
lance, and  to  stop  and  detain  all  vessels  or  craft» 
whatsoever,  proccredins,  or  apparently  intending  to 
proce^ed  towards  the  enemy^  vessels  within  the  wa- 
ters, pi:  havering  about  the  harbors  of  the  Unitrd 
States  ;  o^towards  any  station  ocpupi^;d  by  the  en- 
emy within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States^* 
from  which  vessels  or  craft  the  enemy  might  derive 
succours  or  intelligence.     * 

««W.  JONES." 

xhc  enemy,  the  better  to.  carry  his  projects 
in  the  Chesapeake  into  execution,  took  posses- 
sion of  Ke.nt-island,  and  fortitied  the  nart'o'ws  ; 
'which  station,  he,  however,  soon  afterwaiil  de- 
serted. On  the  10th  August,  he  made  an  at- 
tack on  St  Michael,  with  11  har^es,  which 
went  up  the  river  on  the  opposite  side,  and  came 
down  on  tlie  h  Ae  of  St.  Michael,  with  so  little 
noise,  that  the^  were  not  perceived  yassin^  up 
tf'r  down  the  river  ;  and  as  it  was  very  cloudy, 
and  the  men  in  the  fort,  witliout  suspicion  of 
attac^i,  the  enemy  landed  before  they  were  dis- 
covered. The  men  fired  two  guns  and  left  tlie 
fort,  of  which  the  enemy  immediately  took  [los- 
session,  and  gave,  three  cheers,  supposing  they 
^ouIdlRure  St.  MiehacWithout  iqneh  difficiil* 


'*«    <■- 


174 


HISTOHT   0¥  THE   WAR. 


ty  ;  but  they  were  very  much  mistaken^  Ibr  the 
St.  Michael's  people,  and  capt.'  Tickers,  of  the 
Baston  packet,  with  the  artillery  from  Easton, 
attacked  them  so  briskly,  and  pointed  their, 
guns  with  so  much  judgment,  that  omr  invaders 
were  soon  obliged  to  make  olK—tiie  infantry 
were  not  engaged.  Not  a  man  of  the  Ameri- 
cans was  hurt,  although  the  grape-shot  flew 
like  hail  in  the  town,  and  their  balls  went  through 
a  number  of  the  houses.  The  2  shots  that  were 
fired  from  the  fort  must  have  done  some  execu- 
tion, as  a  c|uantity  of  blood  was  seen  on  the 
shore,  and  2  swords  and  a  pistol  were  left  be- 
hind, and  their  barges  were  seen  to  be  struck 
hy  the  artillery  frdm^the  town. 

On  the  morning  of  the  14th  August,  *at  i> 
o^clock,  the  enemy  attacked  Queetystown,  in 
•Queen  Anu  county,  both  by  land  and  water  ;-^ 
about  600  troops  were  landed,  and  marched  up 
to  the  town,  and  20  afmed  barges  made  the  at- 
tack by  .water- — the  attack  was  so  unexpected^ 
that  but  little  resistance  was  made — a  picKct 
guard  of  the  American  militia  wore  tired  on  by 
the  enemy,  1  of  them  was  killed,  and  2  or  S 
wounded — the  militia  retreuted  to  Centreville^ 
and  left  the  enemy  in  possession  of  the  town. 

/Wei*e  the  enemy  to  confine  himself  to  the  cap* 
luring  of  vessels  and  their  cargoes,  and  the  de- 
struction of  public  property,  he  would  be  justi-. 
fable  $  but  it  is  due  to  truth,  not  to  conceal, 
that,  departing  from  all  established  rules  of 
warfare  ;  he  not  only  carried  off  private  pro* 
perty,  whenever  he  could  seize  ir  but  also  dCf 
stroyed  whatever  he  could  reach,  and  could  not 
i-emove.  On  the  2d  November,  he  landed  on 
George's  island,  and  burned  all  the  buildings 
on  it ;  he  decoyed  a  great  number  of  tliegrett8s> 


with 
wan 
dies, 
neflt 
was 
A 
tlicni 
men, 
dowi 
here 


UlSTOftT   OF  THE   WAR* 


t7» 


in 


de- 
isti. 
lealy 
of 

M'O* 

Idef 
I  not 
on 
ings 


with  a  promise,  to  make  ihem free — and  after- 
ward shipped  these  wretches  .to  the*  West-Ih' 
dies,  where  tJiey  were  sold  as  slaveSffor  tjie  be- 
nefit of  British  officers.  The  following  device 
was  practiced  with  sHccess^  » 

A  party  of  militia,  (17  in  number)*  stationed 
tlvemselves  behind  th#  Sand-hills,  while  2  white 
men,  with  their  faces  ana  hands  blacked,  went 
down  upon  the  beach,  ^nd  waved  their  liand- 
herchit^s  to'the  ships,  when  a  boat,  with  6  men. 
Immediately  came  ashore,  followed,  at  some 
distance,  by  2  others,  full  of  men.  Just  as  the 
men  from  the  first  joat  were  preparing  to  land> 
one  of  those  disguised,  in  walking  a  few  steps* 
showed  his  bare  ancles,  which  he  omitted  to 
blacken,  when  the  enemy  exclaimed — <«  White 
men  in  disguise,  by  —  ;  Let  us  push  off  .'^* — 
which  they  did,  and,  atihe  same  moment,  the 
militia  ran  out  and  fired  upon  (hem,  until  they 
were  out  of  gun-shot^  they  killed  2  out  of  the 

fclK. 

It  would  be  impossible,  in  the  compass  allot- 
ted to  this  work,  '^^o  do  justice  to  tht*  enemy  :— 
his  barbarous  and  plundering  conduct  in  t!i& 
Chesapeake  and  adjoining;  rivers,  can  only  be 
equalled  by  the  conducx  of  the  same  enemy  in  a 
former  war,  «  The  species  of  warfare,"  say» 
the  editor  of  a  Norfolk  |7aper,  **  wagt^d  by  cap- 
tain Lloyd,  of  the  Blo.ntagenet,  on  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Princess  Anne  county,  is  of  that  pitiful 
and  dishonorable  kind,  which  cannot  fail  to  at- 
tach a  lasting  stigma  to  his^haracter,  and  cause 
bis  name  to  de^icend  to  oblivion,  couph^d  with 
that  of  the  infamous  Bunmore^  and  clogged  with 
the  bitter  execrations  of  all  who  shall  hear  the 
tale  of  his  rapacity." 

The  Norfolk  Herald  thus  ably  and  humanelj^ 
notices  the  seizing  and  carrying  off  ue^roe». 


■^0 


17^ 


HIStORT  OF  TUB  WAH.' 


«  To  take  cattle,  or  other«Btock,  would  be  conftia^ 
tent  with  tKe  uttag^  of  civilized  warfai'e  :  but  to  take 
Negroes,  who  are  hitman  beings  ;  to  tear  them  for- 
ever from  their  kindred  and  cortneetions,  is  what  we 
should  neves  expect  fi;om  a  Chriatian  nation,  espe- 
cially, one  sthat  ha9  done  so  much  to  abolish  the 
«  slave  trade."  'J'hertf  are^JMegroes  in  Virginia, 
and  we  believe  in  alfth# southern  states,  who  tiave 
their  interests  and  uffoctions  as  strongly  engrafted 
in  their  hearts,  rs  the  whitbs,  and  who.  feeV  the  sa- 
dred  ties  of  filial,  parental  and  conjugal  aflection^ 
eonally  strong,  and  who  are  warmly  attached  to 
their  owners,  and  the  scenes  of  their  nativity.  To 
those,  no  inducement,  which  the  enemy  could  offer, 
would  be  sufficient  to  tcmpf  them  away.  To  drag 
them  away,  then,  by  force,  would  be  the  greatest 
cruelty.  Yes,  it  is  res' rved  for  England,  who 
boasts  of  her  religion  and  love  of  humanity,  to  prac- 
tice this  piece  of  crrelty,  so  repugnant  to  the  dic- 
tates of  Christianity  and  civilizution.*' 

The  great  vigilance  an4  activity  of  Oic  citi- 
zens, tended  not  only  to  disappoint,  but  frecj[ut3nt- 
Jy  to  pnnish  the  marauders. 

On  the  lltli  September,  about  1'5  men  volun- 
teered from  a  militia  company,  stationed  near 
the  inlet,  at  Norfolk,  to  go  and  attack  a  party 
of  the  British,  who  were  said  to  be  on  shore  at 
the  cape.  When  tlyey  came  to  the  cape,  and 
were  mounting  one  of  the  sand-hills, theyfound 
themselves  in  full  view,  and^within  musket  shot 
of  a  large  body  of  nmrines,  who  were  exercis- 
ing. A  cluster  of  officers  were  standing  some 
distance  off,  betweert  their  main  body  and  our 
iiiilitia — the  latter  had  not  a  moment  to  spare  ; 
they  took  deliberate  aim  at  the  officers,  and  fir- 
ed ;  4  of  them  fell!  The  militia  then  made  the 
best  of  their  way  back  lo  camp,  while  the  ene- 
my's shot  whistled  over  their  heads  inaildireo'* 
tions,  but  without  effect. 


At 


UISTORY  OF  TUJH  WAB. 


177 


'  The  proceedings  of  the  enemy  alonjs;  the  coast 
east  of  the  Deluwafcy  were  not  geiiei*aIJy  im- 
portant. . 

The  frigate  United  ptates,  com.  Decatur; 
frigate  Macedonian,  capt.  Jones ;  and  sloop  of 
^ar  Hornet,  capt.  Biddle,  on  the  S^th  May,  got 
under  way  from  ISew-York,  M'i^h  an  intention  of 
proceeding  to  sea  through  the  Sound.  "When 
off  Hunt's  Point,  the  mammast  of  the  United 
States  was  struck  wi(h  lightning,  which  tore 
away  the  commodore's  hroad  pendant  and 
brought  it  down  on  deck^  passed  into  one  of  the 
port-holes,  down  the  after  hatchway,  through 
the  ward  room  into  the  doctor's  room,  put  out 
his  candle,  tore  up  his  h«d,  and  then  passed  be- 
tween the  skin  and  ceiling  of  the  ship,  and  tore 
up  about  20  nails  of  her  copper  at  water's  edge. 
No  further  trace  of  it  could  be  discovered.  The 
Macedonian  was  about  100  yards  astern  of  4he 
United  States,  and  on  observing  the  lightning 
strike  her,  immediately  hove  her  topsails  aback^ 
fearing  that  the  fire  might  find  its  way  to  the 
magazine. 

On  the  Ist  of  June,  the  vessels  attempted  to 
put  to  sea,  but  were  chased  into  New-Londoa 
by  a  British  force,  consisting  of  4^  74,  a  razee* 
and  a  frigate.  The  blockade  of  New-London 
WHS  immediately  formed;  and  the  inhabitants 
very  highly  alarmed  lest  the  town  would  be  at- 
tacked. 

On  the  21st  Jime,  the  British  privateer  Buck- 
skin, (formerly  belonging  to  Salem,)  chased  a 
coaster  into  Owl  Head  Narrows,  (a  small  har- 
bor in  Massachusetts,)  where  5  otlicrs  were  ly- 
ing, the  whole  of  which  were  captured,  and  re- 
moved down  into  what  is  called  the  Thorongh- 
Ikre,  preparatory  to  being  manned  out;  and  they 


*! 


178 


HISTORY  Of  THB/WAB. 


M 


J.^ 


.# 


l^egan  unlading  one  of  the  sloops^  into  wiiicla 
they  intended  to  'pQt  the  prisoners.  During  this 
time  from  2  to  SOO  militia  collected^  and  pro- 
ceeded down  to  Fox  Island,  il  being  thick  foggy 
weather*  when,  at  1-2  jmst  3  on  the  morniiig  of 
the  22d>  the  fog  clearing  away,  the  privateer 
appeared  at  anchor  about  20  rods  from  the. 
shore,  where  they  eommenced  firing  upon  her 
with  small  arms  and  one  field-piece,  which  kill- 
ed tlfe  privateersmen  almost  as  fast  as  they  . 
came  on -dock.  The  Ist  lieutenant  cut  the  cablcy 
and  in  attempting  to  hoist  the  jiby  (lying  flat  on 
his  back,)  had  his  under  jaw  shot  away  j  the 
captain  was  killed,  and  but  9  men,  it  is  said,  re- 
mained unhurt,  the  rest  being  either  killed  or 
woiihded.  It  being  ebb  tide,  she  drifted  out, 
and  when  out  of  the  reach  of  the  musketry,  got 
under  way,  leaving  all  her  prizes,  which  again 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  rightful  owners.  The 
crews  put  in  to  man  them,  in  attempting  to  es- 
cape to  the  privateer  in  boats,  were  cither  kill- 
ed or  wounded.    The  action  lasted  an  hoiir. 

On  the  23d  June,  two  barges,  containing  each 
about  15  mea  from  the  blockading  squadron  off 
New-London,  attempted  to  land  near  the  light-, 
house ;  but,  on  observing  a  company  of  artillery 
near  the  shore,  pulled  olf  as  fast  as.  possible. 
When  the  enemy  imagined  themselves  out  of 
danger,  they  stood  in  the  barges  and  cheered. 
At  this  moment  a  shot  was  fired  from  the  ar- 
tillery, which  struck  one  of  the  boats,  and  kill- 
ed or  wounded  8  or  1,0  of  the  men  in  it. 

A  Mr.  Scui^der, formed  a  design  of  destroying 
tfe  British  ship  Ramilies,  of  74  guns,  oif  Ncw- 
Lcndon.  For  this  purpose  ten  kegs  of  po\tder 
w  ?*ii  put  irt;  a  strong  ciisk,  with  a  quantity  of 
iM'piiur  mixed  into  it.    At  the  head  of  tli^  cask 


m. 


-<-% 


;* 


UlflTOST  09  THE  WAS, 


iff 


ring 

lew- 
der 

ly  of 


VfHi  fi^ed  two  gun-locks,  iirith  cords  fastened  to 
the  triggers,  and  to  tUe binder  side  of  the  barrels 
in  the  hatchway,  so  that  it  was  ii^posslble  to 
hoist  the  barrels  withoul  springing  the  locks 
each  side  of  the  powder — and  on  the  top  was 
placed  a  quantity  of  turpentine  and  spirits  of 
turpentine,  which  in  aSi  probability  was  sufficient 
to  have  destroyed  any  vessel  that  ever- floated 
on  the  water,  if  she  couid  Iiave  been  got  along 
side,  which  jvas  the  object  iff  view.  These  kegs 
were  put  on  board  tl^e  smack  Eagle,  which 
sailed  from  New- York  on  the  15th  June,  for 
New-London,  but  whic* ^  the  crew  abandoned  on 
being  pursued  by  the  b  lats  of  the  enemy.  It 
was  expected  that  the  v  ssel  would  be  brought 
along  side  the  Ramilies;  and,  by  exploding, 
would  destroy  that  ship.  The  wind  dying  away, 
and  the  tide  being  against  them,  she  could  not 
be. brought  along  side.  When  the  I'agle  ex- 
ploded, there  were  4  boats  along  side,  and  a 
great  many  men  on  board  her.  After  th^^  ex- 
plonon,  there  was  not  a  vestige  of  the  boats  to 
be  seen;  the  body  of  fire  rose  to  a  vast  height, 
and  then  burst  like  a  rocket.  Every  man  near 
or  about  her  were  probably  lost,  at  the  boats 
gent  from  the  Ramilies  were  seen  to  return^ 
without  picking  up  any  thing. 

On  the  10th  June,  three  barges  belonging  to 
the  blockading  squadron,  after  capturing  som*^ 
sloops  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticut  river,  at- 
tempted to  land  at  Sayhrook,  but  were  beat  off 
by  the  militia.  The  enemy  had  3  men  killed 
on  this  occasion,     The  militia  escaped  Unhurt. 

On  the  24th  July,  a  1st  and  3d  lieutenant,  a 
sailing-master  and.  5  men,  belonging  to  the  Ra- 
milies, were  surprised  and  taken  on  Gardner*^ 
I^and^  by  a  party  of  the  crew  of  the  United 


180 


HISTORY  •F  THE   WAV. 

0 


Statesi  despatclie^l  for  tJie  purpose  by  com.  De- 
catur. Tl|e  prisoners  v^ere  paroled ^  and,  be- 
ing at  liberty,  were  joined  by  oibers  of  their 
crew,  wben  they  found  ^themselves  sufficiently 
strong  to  seize  and  carry  off  the  American  boat. 
There  was  an  attempt  also  made  to  intercept 
the  American  party,  but  they  escaped  in  a 
-whalcnlioat  to  Sag- Harbor,  from  whence  they 
retifi*ned  in  safety  to  New-London. 

Shortly  after  tliis  transuittion,  Mr.  Joshua 
Penny,  of  Eusthampton,  Long-Island,  was  ta- 
ken out  of  his  bed  during  the  night  by  a  party 
from  the  enemy's  ship,  and,  being  brought  on 
board  the  Kamilies,  was  put  in  irons.  Major 
C^e,  CO  in  Hi  and  ing  the  troops  of  the  L\  States 
at  S^g-Hali)Qr,  demanded  his  release  as  a  non- 
oombatant;  but  the  British  officer,  capt.  Hardy, 
declined,  on  the  ground  that  he  was  a  combat- 
ant— that  he  conducted  a  party  of  seamen  from 
New-London  to  Gardner's  Island,  there  to  sur- 
prise and  take  several  British  officers—that  his 
name  had  been  entered  on  the  books  of  one  of 
the  frigates,  and  that  he  had  been  ^*  employed  in 
about  cojitrwed  for  the  purpose,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Thomas  Welling,  prepared  with  a  tor- 
pedo to  destroy  this  (capt.  Ilard^'s)  s/t/p."  Ttiis 
last  crime  was  undoubtedly  tliat  which  led  to 
the  capture  and  severe  treatment  of  Mr.  Penny, 
He  was  treated  with  great  severity  while  on 
board  the  Rami  lies,  from  which  vessel  he  was 
sent  toHaJifax.  where  he  was  treated  like  other 
prisoners.  He  was  sent  to  8alem  in  a  earlel 
ship  in  May*  1814;  and  probably  owed  not  only 
his  liberat'on,  but  his  li-Pe.  to  the  eiieuinstance 
that  the  president  of  the  United  Stales  ordered 
two  British  subjects  to  be  held  as  hostages  for 
the  safety  of  Mr.  Penny. 


HISTORY  07  THE   WAR. 


isi 


De- 
be- 

heir 

jntly 

l)oat. 

pcept 

in   a 
they 

as  ta- 
pai'ty 
;ht  on 
Vlajor 
States 
a  non- 
lardy, 
imbat- 
1  from 
to  sur- 
lat  his 
one  of 
lyed  in 
e  com- 
a  tor- 
'  This 

In*  to 

Vnny. 
Lile  on 
lie  was 
otlicr 
cartel 
)t  only 
islanee 
IrdiTt^d 
:es  ior 


The  New-London  blockading  squadron  came, 
on  the  8th  September,  by  the  Hound^  to  a  place 
about  20  miles  from  the  city  of  New-York,  cap- 
tured 20  coasters,  look  a  quantity  of  sheep  from 
the  main,  and  had  probably  other  robberies  or 
injuries  in  view.  Con..  Lewis,  on  receiving  in- 
formation of  the  enemy's  movement,  proceeded 
up  the  Sound,  witli  2B  gun-boats.  By  9  o'clock 
on  the  9th,  he  was  at  Sands'  Point,  within  10 
miles  of  the  enemy.  A  British  frigate  and  a 
sloop,  of  war  got  under  way  and  &tood  toward 
them.  At  1  o'clock,  P.  M.  the  commodore 
brought  his  flotilla  to  anchor  in  Hempstead  bay, 
rea<ly  to  receive  the  enemy.  The  British  ex- 
changed 10  or  15  shots  at  too  great  a  di'^  ..  ce 
to  produce  any  effect,  and  then  stood  to  th;  r  t- 
ward,  and  were  soon  out  of  sight.  The  iloiiila 
returned  to  its  former  station. 

On  the  5th  July,  the  British  tender  Eagle^ 
which  had  b»^en  employed  by  com.  Beresford, 
for  the  purpose  of  burning  coasters,  &c.  was 
taken  by  a  coup  ile  main.  The  srnack  Yankee 
was  borrowed  for  this  purpose.  Sailing-master 
Percival  went  on  board,  and  concealing  30  men 
in  the  hold,  he  tied  a  calf,  a  sheep,  and  a  goose 
on  deck,  and,  thus  prepared,  he  stood  out  of 
Musquito  Cove;  three  men  appeared  on  deck. 
The  Eagle,  on  perceiving  the  sirack,  immedi- 
ately gave  chase,  and  after  coming  u])  with  her, 
and  finding  she  had  live  stock  on  dec!;,  ordered 
her  to  go  down  to  the  commodore,  then  about 
f:ve  mil*"s  distant.  The  helmsman  of  the  smack 
answered  "  aye,  aye,  sir,"  and  apparently  put  up 
the  helm  for  that  purpose,  which  brought  him 
along  side  the  Eagle,  not  more  than  three  yards 
distant.  The  watchword,  Lawrence,  was  then 
given,  wheo  the  armed  men  rushed  oi¥  deck 


182 


HISTORY  0*  THE  WAK. 


from  their  hiding  places,  and  poured  \nto  her  a 
ToUe)'  of  muslietry,  which  struck  her  crew  with 
djsm>iy»  and  drove  them  down  so  precipitately 
into  the  hold  of  the  vessel,  that  they  had  not 
time  to  strike  their  colors.  Seeing  the  enemy's 
deck  clear,  sailing  master  Percival,  who  com- 
manded the  expedition,  ordered  his  men  to  cease 
firing — upon  which  one  of  the  enemy  came  out 
of  the  hold  and  struck  the  colors  of  the  Eagle. 
She  had  on  board  a  32  poui?d  brass  howitzer^ 
loaded  with  cannister  shot ;  but  so  sudden  was 
the  slirprise,  they  had  not  time  to  discharge  it. 
The  crew  of  the  Eagle  consisted  of  H.  ]\|orris, 
master's  mate  of  the  Poictiers,  W.  Price,  mid- 
shipman, and  11  seamen  and  marines.  Mr. 
Morris  was  killed,  Mr.  Price  mortally  wound- 
ed, ami  one  marine  killed  and  one  woundec!. 
The  Eagle,  with  the  prisoners,  arrived  off  the 
Battery  in  the  afternoon*  and  landed  the  prison- 
ers at  Whitehall,  amidst  the  shouts  aud  plaudits 
of  thousands  of  spectators,  assembled  on  the 
iSattery,  celebrating  the  anniversary  of  our  in- 
dependence. 

A  detachment  from  the  gun-boat  flotilla  near 
8andy  Hook,  most  gallantly  beat  off  about  100 
of  the  crew  (»f  the  Plantagenet,  which  drove 
ashore  and  boarded  the  schooner  Sparrow,  of 
Baltimore,  on  the  3d  November,  near  Long 
Branch.  The  cargo,  together  with  sails,  rig- 
ging, &c.  were  saved ;  the  vessel  bilged. 

The  following  copy  of  a  letter  from  lieuten- 
ant Nicholson,  commanding  the  gun-boats  at 
Newp<»rt ,  announced  the  capture  of  the  armed 
British  sloop  Dart,  on  the  ^^tli  October. 

«  Sir-— I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  cf  the 
capture  of  the  British  armed  sloop  "  Dart»'*  by  the 
rejeaue  cutter  of  this  place)  lait  evening.    She  ap^ 


BISTORT  07  THE  VfJLB, 


18^ 


near 
100 

Irove 
,  of 
,ong 
rig. 


peared  off  the  harbor  before  sun-s^t ;  the  captain  of 
the  cutter  offered  his  services  to  go  out ;  1  put  on 
board  three  sailing-masters  and  about  20  men  ;  she 
immediately  made  sail  and  laid  aboard  the  Dar^,  and 
carried  her  by  boarding ;  her  first  ofRcer  was  kill- 
ed ;  ti  of  our  own  men  were  wounded  slightly.  The 
prisoners  I  send  for  your  disposal.  Very  respect- 
fuUyi  your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

«« JOHN  NICHOLSONr 
«  Com*  John  Rodger»,  U^  S,  ' 
frigate  President.^* 

The  British  admiral  Warren  issued  a  proelar 
niation  on  the  16(h  November^  declaring  llong' 
Island  Sound  in  a  state  of  rigorous  blockade. 
This  was  an  extension  or  explanation  of  a  for- 
mer proclamation  of  the  2Mh  Sepfcmber,  by 
•which  the  ports  and  harhorb  of  New-Yorky 
Charleston,  Port-Koyal,  Savannah,  and  the  river 
Missisippi  were  deeiared  in  a  state  of  strict  and 
rigorous  lilockside. 

A  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  governor 
of  Vermont  on  the  10th  of  November,  1813^ 
the  oliject  of  which  was  ta  call  heme  from  the 
service  of  tlie  United  States  a  portion  of  the 
militia,  which  had  been  then  serving  in  the  state 
of  New- York.  Briga4ier-g^eral  Davis  repair- 
ed to  the  army,  and  demanded  a  compliance 
with  the  orders  of  hi»  excellency ;  but  obedi- 
ence w^as  rcfu«5ed,  and  the  general  was  arrested. 

A  reply  to  the  proclamation  was  drawn  up  at 
Plait shurg  the  15th  November,  and  directed  to 
his  excelleR^v,  signed  by  all  the  officers  of  the 
Vermont  militia  then  there.  The  reply  con- 
tained, amoi^  other  matter,  the  following  de- 
cided and  une<|uivocal  expressions : 

"  We  consider  your  proclamation  as  a  gross  in-^ 
8-ult  to  the  oncers  and  soldiers  in  service^ina&much- 


tft4> 


HISTORY   OF   THK    WAR. 


«s  it  implies  that  they  are  so  ignorant  of  their  right?/ 
as  to  believe  you  have  authority  to  command  them 
in  th<ir  present  situation,  or  so  abanacned  as  to  fol- 
low your  insidious  advice.  We  cannot  regard  your 
proclamation  in  any  other  light,  than  as  an  unwar- 
rantable stretch  of  executive  authority,  issued  from 
the  worst  of  motives,  to  effect  the  basest  ptirpoacB* 
It  is,  in  our  opinion,  a  renewed  instance  of  that 
spirit  of  disorganization  and  anarchy  which  is  carri- 
ed on  by  a  faction,  to  overwhelm  our  country  with 
ruin  and  disgrace.  Wc  cannot  perceive  what  other 
object  your  excellency  could  have  in  view  thaft  to 
embarrass  the  operations  of  the  army,  to  excite  nui- 
any  and  sedition  among  the  soldiers,  and  to  induce 
them  to. desert,  that  they  might  forfeit  the  wages  to 
which  they  are  entitled  for  their  patriotic  services." 

A.  most  positive  proof  of  that  actual  treason* 
whicli  lurked  under  the  shade  of  an  ill-timed 
opposition  to  the  measures  of  the  general  gov- 
ernment, was,  soon  afterward,  discovered,  near 
New-I^ondon,  as  will  be  best  explained  by  the 
Sbllowing  communication  from  com.  Decatur 
to  tlic  secretary  of  the  navy,  dated  at  New-Lon- 
don, December  20tb,  1813: 

«  Some  few  nights  since,  the  weather  promised 
an  opjjortunity  for  this  squadron  to  get  to  sea,  and 
it  was  said  on  shore  that  we  intended  to  make  the 
•attempt.  In  the  course  of  the  evening  two  blue 
lights  were  burnt  on  both  the  points  at  the  harbor's 
mouth  as  signals  to  the  enemy,  and  there  is  not  a 
doubt,  but  that  they  have  by  bignals  and  otherwise, 
instantaneous  information  of  our  movements.  Great 
but  unsuccessful  exertions  have  been  made  to  de- 
tect those  who  communicate  with  the  enemy  by  sig- 
nal. The  editor  of  the  New-London  Gazette,  to 
alarm  them,  and  in  hope  to  prevent  the  repetition  of 
these  signals,  stated  in  that  newspaper,  that  they 
had  been  observed,  and  ventured  to  denounce  those 
who  had  made  them  in  animated  and    indignant 


niSTOIlT  OF  THE  WAV. 


±89 


terms.  The  consequence  is,  that  he  has  incurred 
the  express  censure  of  some  of  his  neighbors.  Mot- 
vrithstanding  these  signals  have  been  repeated  and 
have  been  seen  by  20  persons  at  least  in  this  squud* 
ron,  there  are  men  in  New -London  who  have  the 
hardihood  to  affect  to  disbelieve  it>  and  the  t  ffront- 
cry  to  .avow  their  disbelief/'  * 

The  U.  S.  frigate  Congreis,  capt.  Smith,  ar- 
rived at  Portsmouth  in  December,  after  a  cruise 
of  nearly  eight  months.  During  wer  cruise,  she 
got  sight  of  an  enemy^s  line  of  battle  ship,  with 
a  frigatoMD  bompany.^  She  captured  and  de* 
stroyed  one  ship  and  one  brig ;  and  sent  anther 
captui'ed  brig  as  a  cartel  to  the  West-Indies. 
It  will  be  recollected  that  the  Congress  sailed 
from  Newport  in  April,  in  company  with 
the  President,  and  parted  company^  the  Sth 
May.. 

The  hostile  attitude  of  the  Indian^,  and  (he 
battle  with  them  at  Tippacanoe,  previous  to'tho 
war,  excited  alarm,  and  caused  an  inquiry  into 
it^  cause.     A  rommittce  of  congri^ss.  on   that 
part  of  the  ni'esident's  message,  which   related' 
to  Indian  aflTairs^  turned  their  particular  atter^- 
tion  to  the  following,  enquiries  :  ■ 

«  Ist.  Whether  any,  and  what  agency  the 
subfects  of  the  British  government  may  have 
had  in  exciting  the  Indians  on  the  western  fron- 
tier, to  hostilities  against  the  United  States; 

«^d.  The  evidence  of  such  hostility,  ^n  the* 
part  of  the  Indian  tribes,  <  prior  to  the  latecam^- 
paign  on  the  Wabash.. 

«  3d.  Theorilers  by  which  thercampaigii  was- 
authorised  and  carried  on.*' 

The  committee  reported,  that  '^  the  evidence* 
biiefore  them  was  as  conclusive  as  the  nature  of 
the>«ase  ean  well  be  supposed  to  admit  of^  that 

^2■ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


1^121    12.5 

|jo  "^^     HUH 

^  ^    12.2 
2.0 


u 


no 


I 


U 


. 

ll*^ll'-^li^ 

^ 

6" 

— ► 

V 


>!S^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  S73-4503 


^^^  <^' 


±86 


^tSTOBT   QV  TUB  WAB. 


^ 

■**■:$'. 


the  supply  of  Indian  goods  furnished  at  Tort 
I^Akknt  and  distriliuted  during  'the  lust  year 
hy  the  British  agents  in  Upper  Canada^  to  the 
Indian  tribes,  were  more  abundant  than  lisual ; 
and  it  is  diflieuit  to  aeeount  for  this  extraorifi^ 
igary  ]ibei*ality,  on  any  other  ground  thaii  that 
of  jah  intention  to  attach  the  Indians  to  CheBri- 
tisli  cause,  in  the  event;  of  a  war  with  the  Unit-  . 
edSt^es.'* 

>  «<  Additional  presents,*'  continued  the  eom- 
intttsey  «  consisting  of  arms  and  aamunitiony 
given  )^t  a  time  irhen  t|iere  is  evt^o^  thsut  the 
Blpfl'lii'^e  f^rized  of  the  hostile  disposition 
.oi|,^%idians,  aeeompmiied  with  the  spee^es 
ad(ftre]|ied  to  them,  exmting  disaffection,  are  of 
ibOtdedsive  a  character  to  leave  doubt  on  the 
wlyiet." 

^  1^^^  part  which  the  Indians  took  in  the  war 
lieiween  Great-Britain  and  the  Uniled  States, 
was  an  additional  and  strong  evidence  in  sup- 
fort  of  the  agency,  which  the  British  govern- 
ment had  in  the  early  hostility  of  the  savages. 

Scarcely 'was  the  Indian  war  with  the  north- 
western tribeitt  brought  to  a  conclusion,  than 
tiie  tomal^awk  was  raised  on  the  soiitii  western 
border,/  jt 

The  southern  tribes  were  dividec^  iqto  par- 
ties I  one  hostile,  the  other  fHendly,  to  tiie  U- 
.Blted  States.  I'he  former  was  the  stronger 
flirty ^  the  latter  needed  proteetion,  and  were 
so  hent  on  hostility,  that  it  was  found  impossi* 
blc  to  enforce  on  them  a  neutral  policy.  A  de- 
parture from  the  usuaiferbearance  of  the  U.  S. 
government,  to  accept  their  services,  was  una- 
iroidable  ;  and  the  pnlfl^red  servieei  of  frkndJ^ 
iDdians  were  accepted. 

I^  having  boeHmseoveroC  UmI  iR  MttSeqiWBf  d 


VISTQIIT  07  TUB   WAB; 


187 


•f  an  order  from  a  Britisii  general  in  Cam^i^ 
a  kir^  ^uantit^  of  munitions  of  war  were  ma* 
tdbuied  iiy  tb^vSpanish  governor  of  Pensaeolh, 
among  the  hostile  tribe  of  Indians,  colonel  CclJ- 
lier»  with  about  180  men,  marched,  with  a  view 
to  intercept  the  Indians,  pn>t|ij|ir  return.  I)b 
the  27th  July,  1813,  on  the  east  side  of  i^ba- 
ma,  and  waiters  of  Bscambia,  he  fell  hiivithy 
and  gave  battle  to  the  Museogees.  Tk0i^t 
waSf  for  a  short  time,  well  maintained  oU 
sides..  At  the  moment  when  victory  was 
to  declare  in  favor  of  col.  Collier's 
junior  .officer,  without  authority,  eriCL 
ireptl**  It  passed  tbrf^gh  the  whole  H 
notwithstanding  the  diwtions  of  coK  G_ 
was  impossible  to  rally  the  militia  :  the  .^^^.^^^ 
was  left  master  of  the  field.  Col .  Collier  Mst 
^  men  killed  and  10  wounded.  The  Indianif 
aeknowledged  a  loss  of  6  killed  and  severa 
wounded.  A  considerable  part  of  the  pr^ill^ 
brought  by  the  Indians  from  Pensacola,  f<m  in- 
to col.  Collier's  haadso 

Fort  Alimms,  on  TenskWyiM" H^peetedly 
attacked  on  the  SOth  August,  h;^  large  ferei^ 
of  Indians.  The  front  gate  lay  <^n«  and  the 
Indians  iK»re  rushing  through,  when  fii^st  per- 
ceived by  the  garrison*  The  men,  under  com- 
mand of  major  Beasley,  were  quickly  formed^ 
and  a  part  of  them  contested  the  passage  throo^ 
the  gate  with  great  bravery  ;  the  action  senti 
beoame  general;  the  pert- holes  Were  taken  and 
re-taken  several  tiiAes.  A  block-house  was  de- 
fended by  eapt.  Jack  an4Na  f^^  riflemen,  for  an 
hour  after  a  part  of  it  l^Ad"  been  possessed  by 
tbt  enemy.  A  galling  Ipf^  was  kept  up  from 
the  hoitsM  until  the  enemy  gave  fire  to  the 
ti^h  T^  temiUe*   A 

/  '  m 


/ 


t$ft 


BIBTOBT  07  TBE  WAttJI 


^if 


FwV 


t<|treat  was  AtteinpM^  under  direotioli.  orcapf.. 
Bail«y,  of  tUb  nifiiUa,  and  ensign  Cbamliless^ 
ot:  the  rifte  eompany,  l^ut  feiw  of  the  parly  i^eri^- 
able  to^efi^t  \t  Major  B^aMjIey  fe\X  white  de- 
fending the  gateii  at  the  coiniheneenietit  of  tke 
action*  which  eoltinued  for  about  0  hours. — — . 
Iffioily-twonieny  ine[udineoffieers,ij^ere  l(i1]ed|: 
and  jnany  respeetable  ei(tzenB»  Wmi 


fti 


numerous 
»»  who-faad  abtindpned  their  farms  for  se- 
,  were  also  killed  or  burned  in  theiiensesy. 
^owllteh  they  had  fled«    The  loss  ol  the  ene*- 
14  not  l^ageertained,  bnt  must  have  been  i 
itiderable.  ' 

^  Kennedy,  wl^wpatsent;  after  the  re^ 
treat  ol*  the  Indians*  to  bury  the  vdead'i  made  a^ 
i«p%t  to  gen.  Claiborne^  of  which  the  foUow- 
is- an  extraetr 


«  We  cotlected  and  consigned  to  tlje  earth  TWO' 
HUNDREDiAKD  f  pRTY-SEVEN,  inclining  ■ 
mtt\fVfomen«BdchUdren» 

**  TPiie  adjacent  woods  were  stnctiy  searched  Tor  ■ 
our  coantrjria^eii,.^!  in  that  pursuit  we  discovered S 
at  least  Okehundf'ed:  tlaugkterti  Indiani,  Thcy 
were^  covered  "^^tt  rails»  birush ,  8cc.  We  couid  not : 
be  nustaken  as- to  their  being  Indtansf  as  they  were 
intei'red^ith  their;  war«>dress>and  imple^nts--4ind  i 
aIthQiig)>  they  have  massacred  a  number  of  oUr  help?  - 
less,  women  and  children,.  it=  is»v  beyond,  doubts  to ^ 
diem»  a  dear>>baugh^  vict€»iy/. 

The  massaere  at  Fort  Mlmms,  was  foHdwed' 
1^  severah^itliep  cruel  murders  in  different  plsi« 

^fW  general  govervHienty  having  beeirinf6rm« 
•d  t^  these  transactionSf  made-  a  reqnisitlOB^  on ; 
Ae  states  of  Tennessee  andh'"  Georgia*  ibr  de* 
toehments  of  mititia,  te.be  sent  ag^l  the  hfos^ 
tile  Indians  of  the  CN«li^Ha(i«ii^#  ^  m 


^ :;>,»:    -';.. 


niWtmY  <MP  TBS  ITJUt. 


189 


••Vt  't- 


Tlie  legi^fttttfe  4»f  tlie  state  <^  l^ftnestte  a- 
Jkpt<B4ti  ptMolutioD,  *aiki  the  f?7tfc  Septembep,  in 
the  foilowing  trords  :     • 

<«  Reaotvedi  That  the  governor  of  this  «tatc  be, 
and  he  is  hereby  required,  forthwith  to  give  Imme- 
diate information  io  thft  eaiecutive  of  the  U.^.  of 
the  time  wheii,^  and  the  place  at  which,  (lie  S,50()inen 
mill^be  pjsepared  to  obey  the  brderi  of  the  ffiMkeral 
gomnitient,  accompanied  with  a  request  that  ^ 
said  troops  be  immediately  received  into  the  public 
scrticc.*!  ;r  /      '     -  _,       -•  ^^^^\ 

The  legidatiire  of  Gfiiir^  gave  autl#i^  ||. 
t|ie  govertQi;«  Jto  call  4li^eh  -portioip  of  tHei|i^ 


litia,  as  he  might  deeil^iessary,  for  the  «e<rii- 
riit^aQd  protection  ofiii  frontier  inhabf^anis  ; 
and  requiriog  that  he  eall  4m  the  generargQ- 
vernment  for  auhsisteiiipe  lor  the  trodps  t&t 
might  be  thus  caNed  out.  This  imsVin  dfeet, 
pttttiii^  them  at  ibud  disposal  of  the  general  go* 
verniment. 

The^  uftilitia  of  the  states  jf  Georgia  and 
Tennessee,  with  the  nearest  i^^ptlat^^imps,  and 
other  corps  from  the  Mississipj^^errltory/were 
mai^ched  against  the  hostile  savs^^.  General 
Andrew  Jaekson^eommanded  the  entire.     # 

llie  first  vietory  (for  everj  battle,  after  thll 
period,  was  a  yiQtor^)  is  thus  detailed  by  gen^ 
Jaekson.  . 

«<  We  have  retaliated  for  the  destruction  of  Foiit 
Mimms.  On  the  2d,  I  detached  gen.  Ce^e  with  a« 
part  of  his  brigade  of  cavalry  and  mounted  rifi^neiii 
to  destroy  Tallushatches,  where  a  confsider^^ 
force  of  the  hostile  (greeks  were  concentrated^— 
The'  general  executed  this  in  style.-  A  hundred 
and  eightyfsix  of  th#enemy  were  found  dead  on 
the  field,  and  «bont  80  taken  prisoners,  40  of  whom 
have  been  broughthete.'  In  the  number  left,  there 
is  a  sufficiency  but  sightly  wounded,  to  ^e  care  of 
those  who  are  badly. 


l»0 


BisTOBT  OF  Tiai  yfAM. 


<*  I  have  to  regret^  that  5  of  my  ^me  felloifs 
have  been  ki|led,  and  about  30  wounded ;  aomt 
badiy,  but  none  I  hope  tnortally. 

«  Both  officers  and  men  bebayed  with  the  utmost 
bravery  and  deliberation.        •  .  ^ 

"  Captains  Smith,  Bradley  and  Winston,  are 
wounded,  all  slightly.  '  Ko  <^cer  is  killed.' V   ,  , 

It  appears,  by  gen.  CoiTee's  statement,  dated 
Camp  at  Ten-islands  of  Coosa^  November  4th» 
th^t  the  Indians  fought  ivith  a  hi*avery  that 
wdiiljftdo  them  nopor,  had  they  been  en|^ged  in 
a  jn^t  eause^  with  an v  ohstinacy,  that^  WoaJd 
yield  to  nothing  bn|i!|p|H;  and  wkli\  eonteinpt 
#  danger,  trul^  efidtilll^istic  of  the  savage.-^ 
'fne  detaehment;  under  command  of  gem  Co^e^ 
consisted  nf  900,  cavalry  and  mounted  rt^emenr. 
Being  arrived  within  oae  aqd  a  half  miles  of  tho 
TaHiisliatch^s  toi^n,  the  detachment  was  divid- 
ed into  two  columns,  the  right  composed  6f  the 
oavalry,  under  col.  AHcorn,;  the  left  composed 
of  mounted  rifl^en,  under  col.  Cannon.     Oen. 
Coffee  mai*ehedrwith  the  riflemen  ;  col.  AHcorn 
cneirclcd  one  half  of  the  town,  while  col.  Can- 
iion  ^pmpI(Btted  the  circle,  by  closing  on  the  <  side 
yoii^|k»9i(e  to  Ool.  Alloorn.      When  wivhiii  half  a 
ttii^le  of  the  town,  t<he  drums  of  the  ei^emybeat, 
and  the  savage  yeljs  annOtmcfd  that  the  enemy 
X?a8  prepared  for  battle.     In  about  an  hour  af- 
ter sno-rise,  eapt.  Hammond  and  lieut.  Patter- 
i»on'8  ^^ompanies  vrent  within  the  circle,  and  sue* 
e0eded  )n  drawing 'forth  the  enemy,   and  com- 
menj^  tfce  battle,   when  they  withdrew  before 
ft  violent  charge^  from  the  Indians, .  until  they 
reached  colonel  Alleorn's  mdlumny  whpn  a  gene- 
ral fire  was  opened  on  the  savages,  w^  retreat- 
ed, Ji  ring  until  they  got  around  and  into  their 
hiuiiiogs.     Here  they  fought  as  long  as  ooa 


H 


ii» 


ieMTo;aT  OF  the  war. 


19i 


existed.  No  qijiarter  Was  sought ;  aii^d  no;ie» 
from  all  appears^nce*  Would  Jie  accep(e(f#  The 
assault  bjrthe  tiH)ops,  was  i^arm  and  courage^ous, 
nishing  up  to  the  doors  of  the  housed,'  as  little 
intimidated  as  If  there  was  no  enemy  to  oppose 
them,  /  !|n  &  conflict  of  this  nature,  it  was  im* 
possible  to  provide  against  the.  destruetioq  of  a 
few  of  the  squaws  and  children.  The  number 
oftheen^hiy  killed  must- have  exceeded  200 1 
186  of  whom  were  found ;  8^  wome#and  child- 
'  ren  were  tah^n  prisoners.  TIob  loss  of  the  mi-^ 
litia  consi8t^.d  of  5  privates  killed ;  4  captalnsji 
2  lieutenants*  2  eornetii^^  3  sergeants,  5  corpOi- 
ralSt  1  artificer  and  2#^lvetes,  wounded,  -f- 
On  the  evening  of  tKl^^h  November,  an  e^i- 
press  arrived  to  gen.  Jackson,  with  informatioh» 
that  the  hostile  Creeks  hadjencampefl  in  great 
force  near  Lashle^'s  Ibrt  (Talladaga),  wit^the 
apparent  intention  of  attacking  the  friendly  In- 
dians. .  The  general  imn^diateJy  marched  wit^ 
about  2000  men,  against  the  enemy,  and  en- 
cameled  that  night  within  six  nllles  of  the  fort. 
At  4  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  tlie  8th,  he  con- 
tinued his  march' toward  the  enem;^,  who  was 
encamped  within  a  quarter  ofamil($  of  the  forty, 
to  relieve  whieh,  gen.  Jaeksoii  had  so  expedi*^ 
tiously  moved.  At  sun  rise,  the  general  was , 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  fort,  when  he  moved 
forwaiM]  in  order  of  battle.  The  plt^n  of  attack 
was  similar  to  that  which  proved  so  suci^isful 
on  the  2d  inst.  I'he  enemy  Mfas4o  be  enelosed 
in  a  ci#ble.  The  advanced  guard  sent  forwai*i9 
to  bring  on  the  engagement,  succeeded  in  draw- 
ing forward  the  sa^^es  towai€'the  jnain  body 
of  theai^y.  On  nie  arrival  of  the  Itidiansf#' 
within  a  short  distance  of  ttte  main  body,  of  the 
armyi  a  few  companies  of  thb  lullitia  comroeiie^ 


M 


■■'»• 


192 


ItM^kitM  6V  TH^  VkW^ 


■^ 


ed  a  retreat  f  but  ffttlhi^  tlieir  place  qiii&kl;^ 
supjUiediby  a  bod v  of  cirairy»,  Mf ho  dismountdd 
for  tint  purpOEOy  the  militia  niUied,  ivhen  a  gen- 
eral fire  frdm  the.front  llne^  iuid  A:*6m  that  part 
oC  the  win^  which  wa»  contiguous,  was  poured 
on  the j^vagcs,  who,  unable  to  witli^tapd  orre^ 
sist,  refreated  ;  byt  weire  met  at  every  turn, 
»nd  repulsed  in  erery  direction,  Had  it  not 
lieen  fei^  th(|  retreat  of  the  mtlitiayjnthe  early 
jj^rf  of  the^cedonr  this  victory  would  probably 
|iave  been  as  eoiii||iete  sts  that  of  the  2d.  The 
victopy,  howefei^ilfas  Vfry  decisive!  290  of  the 
enemy  were^  left  dead|^^Ehe  iiel^it  f  maii^  more 
w^re  probably  kille^-^^mfwere^not  found  ;  and 
niahy,  or'  most  of  thos^^^o^  eseaped>  must  have 
been  wounded;  Jackson  was  compelled  to  re- 
turn to  bis  camp  ne^  the  TeMsbrndsy  having 
mar|^ed  ff'ottn  thence  \vii^ut  baggage,  or  otl^ 
er  necessaries  that  could  be  dispensed  with,  or 
might  retard  his  march.  He  lost,  in  the  en- 
gagement, 17  killed  and  86  wounded.  The  en- 
emy exceeded  idOO  warriors.  A  stand  of  co- 
lors, bearing  the  Spanish  cross,  was  taken  from 
them.-      ■   v^'''  ■■/  ^    ',  ■ ' '     '  '"  '' 

.Oh  the  tSb  November,  gen.  "White  was  de- 
^l^ed  from  Fort  Armsh^-ong,  on  the  Coosa^ 
|vith  about  1100  moimtiedmen,  (including  up^ 
-Wards  of  300  €hei*okee  Indians)  foif  the  purpose 
of^atfacklng  the  Hillabee  .towns,  oti  the  west 
iud|ffTall«|}eo§^  river.  On  the  l7tb,  about t 
i]^en»eK  at  night,  the  detachment  march^i^ltb^ 
ItiS  miles  of  the  upper  town  r  receiveii 
Hiati^fi*om  one  of  their  spies^^^a  hi^J 
fton^of  a  Mr;  Gri^son,  wfc^hji^^ 
jiroperiy,  and  iresided  at  (h^i^fhiee,  i\ 
Uy  and  property  w^iild  be  sacrificed 
4ians  on  the  next  dja^y,  if  gen.  White  <fid  tti|  re* 


.«"' 


HiSTOBT  «V  TOS  ITAB, 


%i 


lt$ 


)ieve  liim.  Gen.  lVhit4#H1ift1ao)^ty,di9iKouiit* 
0(1  three  hundred  of  his^troops,  with  pairt  of  tRe 
Imliansy  and  marched  to^  surprise  the  .toirn  be- 
fore day-light  Having  large  creeks  tf^wadcy 
and  the  van  having  <o  tarry  seme  tifiie  for  the 
rear»  which  had  fallen  behind  some  distanccy 
the  town  was  not  reached  until  sun-risc^on  the 
ISihf  when  the  town  was  completely  fiurrdund 
cd,  and  the  savage  enemy  received  Jhe  ^t  fire 
without  the  least  notice  of  the  ap|)iroac6.  Th^ 
^red  several  giins»  but  wm  chargef]  home 
itpon  them  with  loaded  mtiimtd  and  charge  of 
b^onets  :  and  in  10  or;^  mlQute»4hey  h^  i||^ 
a  flap,  and  the  firing  e^sed.  An  Indian  town 
at  laltle  Oakfuskee,  consisting  of  50  housesy  a 
town  called  Geaalga^  consisting  of  95  housesy 
wei^  burned  by  <he  troops  Jn  t^ieir  march.  The 
greater  number,  if  not  the  whole  :of  the  liostile 
Creeks,  assembled  atJ^  Hillabee  town^ '  con^ 
sisting  of  about  316,  Wh  either  killed  or  cap- 
tured. -60  warriors  were  killed  on  the  spot.-^ 
Gen.  White's  detachment  had  not  a  man  killed 
or  wounded. 

Gen.  I^loyd,  wi^b  ^5a  of  tlie  GeOr^a  militia^ 
and  between  300  and  400  friendly  Indians,  pro^ 
eeeded  to  a  town  called  Autossee,  on4he  "so^lih^ 
ern  bank  of  the  Talapoos#e,  about  IS  miles  from 
the  Hickory  Ground,  in  order  to  attack  a  large 
force  of  hostile  Indians,  reported  to  lie  assem- 
bled at  that  place.  At  half  aitHpiO^^  ^er  6 
ofciock  in  the  mornii)^  of  the^^Sth  li«iv^ber» 
]ttion  reaped  the  front  op.^|^iownt 
men  were  fMMued  lor  actitii.  A^'^his 
hen^  the  ^9rmy  was  abont  /0.  ^ecute  9^ 
ted  manc&uyre,  for  the  purpiise  of 
ng  ihe  enemy)  a  fecond  town  w£^  df s^ 
~  out  dockyards  belf^  that  urMeh  iwas 


191 


HtSTOVT  OF  THE  WAB. 


ilrst  disooYcretl.  This  compelled  gen.  Floy iji  to 
ft^opt  a  new  manoeuvrey  hy  ilividing  and  dispose 
ing  hit  foree»  so  that  both  towns  might  be  at- 
tacked at  once.  This  disposition  being  mnde» 
and  the  troops  having  advanced,  the  ba'tle  com- 
mcncediund  soon  became  general.  The  Indians 
fought  ivith  their  usual  obstinacy  and  despera- 
lion*  but  were  s6on  compelled,  by  the  superior 
force  of  artU|ery  and  a  charge  of  bayonets,  to 
retreat,  an^take  refuge  in  the  out- houses  and 
copses  in  the  rear>f  the  town.  At  9  o'clock, 
the  enemy  was  eompletely  driven  from  the  plain 
and  the  houses  wrapped[|j|  flames.  The  militia 
being  60  miles  from  ai^  jlepot  of  provisions,  ^nd 
biitf  little  remaining,  it  was  judged  imprudent  to 
eontinue  in  the  heart  of  a  country,  surrounded 
bv  hosts  of  savages. .  The  place  was,  therefore, 
abandoned,  "and  the  troops  commenced  their 
march  to  Chatahouchii 


tjjgpi 
DrMi 


Auttossee  was  a  favoMI  spot  with  the  Indians, 
and  it  is  conjectured,  that  the  force  assembled 
&om  se^eval  towns  for  its  defence,  must  have 
been  very  coi^siderable.  It  Is  difficult  to  give  a 
precise  account  of  the  loss  of  the  enemy  ^  but 
irom  tlie  number  which  were  laying  scattered 
tOVi«r  Ihe  ^eld,  together  with  those  destrbyed  in 
j^e  towns*  iuid  the  many  slain  on  the  bank  of 
i%e  river,  4fhich  respectable  officers  affirm  they 
4a^  layine  fn  heaps  at  the  water's  edge,  where 
Ih^^ad  bieeli  pi^^cipitated  by  their  surviving 
i^fitejii,  their  loss  in  kille<VJndepelident  of  their 
Iroiindedy  pust  have  been  fit  least  200,  (among 
WhbiQ  were  the  Autussee  and  Tallassee  Kings;) 
and  ^m  fhe  eironmstance  of  their  making  no^ 
^ffolrtl  to  JlMlest  the  troops*  prob^Uy-mater. 
The  imtig^r  0f  buiMliigs  burnt,  some  df a  suife- 
9«lor  order  for  the  dw^lings  oi^avages,  and  itl^ 
Ifid  with  valuable  articles^  is  supposed  to  be  400* 


4 


niSTOBT  OF  THB  WAR. 


i$9 


The  nuDiljer  of  the  Amerieans  killed  and 
wouiifledy  a^Turnished  by  the  hospital  surgeooj 
was— Total  killedfll;  total  ^^Mndedy  54,  a- 
mong  whom  was  gen.  Floyd,  badly. 

A  dctjMinient,  under  eompiand  of  gen*  Clai- 
borne, iQrehe't  from  Fort  Claiborne,  east  bank 
of  the  Alabama,  on  the  jiath  of  Deeipber,  a- 
gainst  the  Indians  residing  on-  the  Alabama, 
above  the  mouth  of  the  Cahaba.  After  a  mareh 
of  more  than  100  miles,  principally  through 
woods,  without  a  track  to  auide  them^  they 
eame  in  sight  of  a  new  towti^fGlely  built  by  the 
Indians  on  a  ground  called  **  Holy."  This 
town  was  established  av^plaee  of  security  for 
the  inhabitants  of  several  villages ;  ani*  three 
of  the  prophets  resided  in  itr  The  pla  e  was 
then  occupied  by  a  large  body  of  the  enemy,  un- 
der the  command  of  "Wetherfbrd,  a  biddand- 
sanguinary  chief,  who  was  one  of  those  who 
commanded  the  Indians  at  the  massacre  of  the 
garrison  and  inhabitants  at  Fort  IMims*  About 
noon,  on  the  23d  December,  tiie'  right  column 
of  the  army,  composed  of  i2  months*  volunteers, 
commanded  by  col.  Joseph  Carson,  came  in 
0  view  of  the  town,  and  was  immediately  and  vig- 
orously attacked  by  the  enekny,  who,  being  a[i- 
prized  of  the  approach  of  the  troops,  had  eho- 
seh  their  field  of  action.  Before  the  other 
troops  or  friendly  Indians  couldyoi&e^nerally 
into  action,  the  enemy  were  re^¥||Nl^a^cl^if^ 
in  all  directions.  Thirty  dT  tli^Vllneniy  Wfore 
killed,  and  many  wounded.  The  1^  to  theiNN^^ 
my  was  one  killed  and  six  woundei;^-  A  Mf  sut^ 
was  attempted,  hiit  found  to  be.  Impractiffiable^ 
owing  to  the  nature  of  the  ground.  The  iown, 
eonsisting  of  200  houses,  was  burned,  together 
with  A  large  quantity  of  provisions,  andimiiteiis# 


l^- 


i$S  VllTCaiT  OT.TUB  WAB.  « 

yroMFty  of  yarioas  klndi,  vhic|k  (be  irnemy 
^uM  not  earry  away.  The  next  day  was  em- 
B^oyed  in  destroi^ing  a  town  connsting -of  60 
Bousesy  8  milei  hiiper  up  the  river. 

Mioilfiiithstandinff  these  repeated  dAa(s»  the 
lavages  seemed  yet  bent  on  war.  PiPre  day, 
aa  t£»  llomine  of  the  27th  Jandaryf  a  fpvy 

Ifirge  fa^ody  of  Indians  attaelied  the  troops  at 
C^aofip-Ileuatiieey  48  niiiieswest  of  Chatahoucbte. 
The  onset  was  desperate*  and  the  surprise  as 
^ORip^ete  as  possible*  In  20  minutes  after  fir- 
ing on  the  8entiaels»  the  aetion  became  genera)^ 
the  enemy  pressii^  close  on  the  firont,  ngbtand 
left  flanks  of  the  army  J  bn^  the  savages  were 
itepeiled  at  every  poilif.  The  enemy  rushed 
n^my  to  the  cannon's  roouth»  and  gained  the 
rear  of  the  picket  guards*  commanded  by  eapt. 
Broadnax  ^  but  the  latter  bravely  cut  their  way 
throllgbthesavages^andjouiedtUe  armyv  -As 
soon  as  day  dawned*  and  olyeots  could  be  dis- 

'4ingui^ed*  a  charge  was  ordered,  and  the  ene- 
my fled  before'  the  bayonet.  The  signal  was 
givenfor  the  ebarge  of  the  cavalry*  who  pur- 
sued ittid  sabred  15  of  the  enemy  ;  who  left  S7 
dead  on  the  field.  From  tbe  effusion  of  blood*  ^ 
and  the  number  of  head-dresses*  and  war-clpibs* 
Ibuad  in  various  directions*  their  loss  must  have 

r  been  considerable.     The  loss  of  the  army,  on 
this  occasion*  was  17  killed  and  132  wouiided. 

^•Of  the  friendly  Indians,  5  were  killed  and  15 
wounded.  * 

v-^n*  Jiiekson*  having  received  information  at 
IHs  bea<^lii^|ers.  Fort  Strother*  from  cap(« 
M\41pn^^lv)fll|sommanded  at  |i*ort  Armstrong, 
in  tli^  aba^ee  of  col.  Snod^rast*  that  14  or  15 

'  tOi^s  of  tie  enemy*  situated  on  the  waters  of 
tli!e.TaUapQ(|sa>  were  about  uniting  their  foree)^ 


UllTORT  OV  TUK  WAB. 


i9ir 


and  attaeking  the  forty  ifhiah  was  then  i|i^ 
a  feeble  state  of  defence,  the  general  resoly-  • 
ed  on  an  excursion  into  the  eneniy*s  couii- 
trv  further  than  had  been  hitherto  attempt- - 
ed.  He  accordingly  commenced  his  mawh  on  i 
the  15th  January*  with  930  men*  exdusive  of 
Indians.  On  the  ISth,  the  army  eneamped  at 
Talladega  fort»  where  it  was  joined  by^aboilt 
SOO  friendly  Creek  Indians,  and  0lN)herokees. 
Here  the  general  received  a  letter  from  colonel 
Snodgrass,  who  had  returned  to  Fort  Arm- 
strong, informing  him,  that  an  attack  was  soon 
to  be  made  on  that  fort,  by  900  of  theeneipy*' 
It  was  further  understood,  that  the  enemy  was 
collecting  in  a  bend  of  thcTallapoosecnearthe 
mouth  of  a  creek  called  Emuckfau,  on  an  island 
1>elow  New-Yorcan. 

On  the  20th^  at  night,  the  army  /eneamped  ' 
at  a  small  Hillabee  village,  about  12  mites  from 
£muckran.    On  the  2l8t,  the  army  marched  in 
a  direct  line  for  the  bend  of  the  Tallapoosee.— * 
In  tlie  afternoon,  the  army  >halted,  and  the  gen<- 
Dral  determined  to  encamp  for  the  night,  that 
he  might  have  time  to.  reeonnoitre,  and^make 
dispositions  for  attack,  if  he  were  in  the  neigh^ 
tiorhood  of  a  large  force,  which,  fk'om  appear- 
ance, he  Judged  to  be  the  case^    Having  chosen  ( 
an  eligible  scite,  the  army  encamped  in  a  hollow  : 
square.     Spies  and  pickets  were  sent  out,  the 
sentinels  doubled,  and  the  necessary  arriange- 
meots  were  made  to  resist  an  attack,  if  ft  should  - 
be  attempted  during  the  night ;  ortomAk^ioi^, 
if  the«nemy  couM  he  found  at  .di^^%ht  the 
followinj^  morning.      Mobile  thU  .army  was  in 
this«tate  of  readiness,  the  enemy,  abbnt  6  o'clock 
la  the  morning,  commenced  a  vi^rons  atlack 
^  the  left  flanks  which  was  as  vi^ou$ly .  met* 


i^^^~ui^ 


i$8 


BISTOBY  OF 


THE 


WAV. 


r^v 


i*r;. 


The  aoiion  raged  for  half  an  hour  on  the  left 
fLofikf  and  on  the  left  of  the  rear  of  the  army. 
'i%e  brave  gen.  Coffee^  with  eol.  Sittler^  the 
adjutant-general,  and  eol.  Carroll,  the  inspce- 
tor-g^eral»  the  moment  the  firing  commenced, 
mounted  their  horses  and  repaired  to  the  line, 
encouraging  and  animating  the  men  to  the  per- 
ifbrniance  of  their  duty.  So  soon  as  it  becaine 
light  enough  to  pursue,  the  left  wing,  having 
sustained  tlie  heat  of  the  action,  and  being  some- 
what weakened,  was  reinforced  hy  capt.  Fer- 
nll's  company. of  infantry,  and  was  ordered  and 
led  on  to  the  charge  by  gen.  Coffee,  who  was 
well  supported  by  col.  Uigglus  and  the  inspec- 
tor-general, and  by  all  the  officers  and  privates 
who  composed  that  line.  The  enemy  was  com- 
pletely routed  at  every  point,  und  the  fi'iendly 
Indians  joining  in  the  pursuit,  they  were  chased 
about  two  miles  with  considerable  slaughter. 

Geo.  Coffee,  who  was  detached  with  400  men^ 
to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  encampment,  return- 
td,  with  a  view  to  bring  up  the  artillery,  which 
Me  deemed  necessary  to  the  attack.  In  lialf  an 
hour  4ifiter  his  return,  ^  considerable  force  of 
Ihe  enemy  commenced  a  fire  on  a  party  of  meo 
who  were  then  in  search  of  Indians.  Gen.  Cof^ 
Ibe,  with  only  54  men,  a  part  of  SOO  who  wer« 
lo  have  acted  with  him,  commenced  an  attack 
OB  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy ;  200^  friendly  In*- 
dians  were  ordered  at  the  same  time  to  attack 
the  enemy's  right.  At  this  moment  it  was  dis- 
eovcred  that  the  attack  of  the  enemy  was  but  a 
Ibini,  having  intended,  by  drawing  off  the  gene- 
;;9fii'8  attention  from  his  left,  to  attack  it  with 
success :  in  thU  the  enemy  was  disappmnted. 
The  whole  line  met  the  approiich  of  the  enemy 
>Hh  astomahing  intropidity,  and  having  ^Uip- 


HISTOAT  OV  THE  WARb 


119 


^edy  foiv  ed  the  savages  to  retreat  viiih  preeipi- 
tati«n.  They  ivere  pursued  to  a  considerable 
distance^  and  severely  galled  hy  a  very  destrtl^ 
tive  fire.  '^. 

During  this  transaetion,  gen.  Coflee  wap  etp^r 
tending  against  a  very  superior  force.  As  sjpeti 
as  possible  a  reinforeement  was  sent  to  his  aid» 
ivhieh  soon  decided  the  contest  in  that  quarter: 
the  enemy  was  charged^  routed  and^ursuedFfor 
three  miles.  Nothiiig  now  remained  but  to  de- 
stroy an  empty  camp»  which  did  not  seem  of 
sufficient  importance  to  delay  a  return  to  Fort 
Strother,  which  was  commenced  on  the  follow- 
ing morning. 

On  the  24fth9  as  the  men  were  erossing  the 
£notachopco  creek,  an  alarm  gun  annQuneed- 
the  advance  of  the  enemy.    Gen.  Jackson  ex- 
pected an  attack,  and  had  dispositions  made  to^ 
turn  it  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  enemy.    The 
right  and  left  columns  of  the  army  were  direct- 
ed to  turn  on  their  pivots,  recross  the  creek 
above  and  bc^ow,  and  ftiUon  the  enemy's  flanks 
and  rear.    Tile  manoeuvre^  if  executed,  would 
probably  prove  as  desti'uctive  to  the  enemy  as 
any  thing  hitherto  attempted ;  but,  at  the  )ndi> 
ment  when  a  few  guns  were  fired,  the  riglit  and 
left  columns  of  the  rear  guard  gave  way;  the 
greater  part  of  the  centre  column  followed  the 
disastrous  example,  leaving  not  more  than  26 
men,  who  maintained  their  ground  as  long  as 
possible.    There  was  then  kit  t»  repulse  the 
enemv,  butthe  few  who  remained '  ki  the  rear 
guard,  the  artillery  company,  and  eftpt.;Bu«9ell'8 
eompany  of  spies.    Amidst  a  roost  galUng  fire 
from  the  enemy,  tliis  little  bandruot  one  tenik 
::4^  the  number  opposed  to  it,  advanced  to  t^ 
tliaek«    The.  artiUery  andafew  others.ga'Ml 


ado 


0 

illBTOET   OV 


WAll. 


the  top  of  a  hill,  drawing  up  viiOi  ihetn  a  «ix^ 
pofindery  when  they  poured  on  the  enemy  Mye-r 
rli  discharges  of  grape,  then  charged^  repulsed 
^nd  pursued  him  for  two  miles,  leavrag  26  of 
thielrirarriors  dead  on  the  field.  The  loss  in 
these  several  engagements  tvas  20  killed  and  76 
'wounded;  The  loss  of  the  enemy  ebuld  not  be 
exaetly  asc^tained :  1S9  of  their  warriors  wdre 
foulid  deady  tliis  undoubtedly  formed  but  a  part 
of  the  killed ;  the  wounded  must  have  been  pro* 
portionfltily  numerous.  ^ 

All  the  effeets  intended  by  this  excursion, 
seem  to.haye  been  produced.  If  an  attaek  yiras 
intended  against  Fort  Armstrqng,  .that  was  pre- 
sented^ a  diversion  was  made  in  favor  of  gen. 
]^l6yd,  who  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  Talla- 
poosee ;  the  number  of  the  enemy  Avas  lessened, 
and  their  eonfideiiee  in  their  leaders  broken  in 
on;  the  enemy's  country  was  explored,  and  a 
road  cut  through  an  important  part  of  it ;  &ud, 
on  the  whole,  tended,  to  and  bastened  the  termi- 
natijiin  of  Indian  hostilities^  aa  much  if  not  more 
than  any  previous  expedition.     ^ 

Hitherto  the  enemy  was  engaged  either  in 
th^  open  field,  or  in  situations  where  he  had 
little  advantage  from  works  of  art,  and  not 
much  from  nature.  One  situation  remained  to 
be  assailed*  where  a  skilful  display  of  art  ren- 
dered a  position,  naturally  strong,  so  seemingly 
impregnable,  that  it  required  a  great  efibrt  of 
^courage  to  approach  it,  a  eonsummate  skill  to 
direct  the  attack,  and  a  persevering,  undaunted 
ijresolution,  to  prosecute  it  to  success. 
-  In  the  beiid  of  the  Tallaposee,  tw<^  miles  bfe- 
j^nd  where  gen.  Jackson  engaged  the  Indians 
on  the  22d  January,  the  savages  bad  fixed' on  % 
Mite  for  efeo^g  a  fo^tificatrion..   Nature  fuv-^ 


aisT< 


B  Wi^ 


nished  few  places  more  eligible  for  defenee,  and 
il  Wilt  iniptoTed  by  art^^ritb  a  skill  not  dis^ot- 
ei^  before  in  an  Incfian  foftifiea#;^^.  life  bend 
resemblfiSrin  its  curvature,  a  hor^slioe.  Aeros^^ 
the  heck  of  land,  which  leads  into  it  frllD  tfaf 
n^rtfa)  a  breastwork  was  erected,  of  the  {^at«# 
eompaetnesk  and  strength;  froin  6  to  f  feet 
high,  and  prepared  with  dioiuble  mgu-  of  pprt-r 
hmesf  Ycry  ailfuUj  arranged;  airirinycdnfd 
not  apprCaeh  it,  without  being  exposed  to  a 
double  and  cross  fire  firom  ^e  ettemy,  who  lay 
in  p^feet  security  behiiod  it;  Oen.  Jackson  re- 
aolTcid  on  the  attack  of  this  important  uid  ^u-^ 
blystr<Nig  position.  The  indian  force  Ibiouiit^ 
ed  to  about  or  upwards  of  lodb  warriors.  The 
army  approachied  this  fdriliidable  position  oa 
the  27th  March,  near  enough  to  prepai*e  for 
the  attack.  Gen.  Cpfibe,  with  the  mounted 
iiien  and  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Indian  forcet 
crossed  the  nVer  about  two  miles  below  the  en- 
eanqimient,  with  a  tIcw  to  prevent  the  escaM%f 
the  Indians ;  iher  infantiy  advanced  slowly  luong 
the  point  of  lahd  which  led  to  the  front  of  ^e 
breastwork;  a  6  and  a  8  pound  cannon  wero 
planted  on  an  eminence,  at  a  distance  of  150% 
200  yards  from  it.  A  fire  froni  rifles  iras  di- 
rected against  the  enemy,  whenever  he  shewed 
himself  beyond  his  defences.  When  this  fi#^ 
was  kept  up  about  two  hours,  a  party  crosild 
over  in  eanocs  and  fired  a  few  of  the  buildings^ 
and  then  advancing  boldly  up  to  the  lireastwork, 
commenced  a  fire  on  the  enemy  behind  it.  Tbis 
proving  insufficient  to  dislodge  him,  f^n.  Ja<^- 
son  resolved  to  take  it  by  storm,  llie  troops 
received  the  order  with  »cc!amation,  and  ad^ 
vanced  with  an  ardent  and  zealous  enthusiasm. 
ff  Baving  maintained,"  liays  gen.  J^cksoUf  ia 


«4 
^1 


iOSt 


HISTOBT  jp 


WAll. 


fc 


bii  letter  to  gov*  Blount>  "  for  a  few  minutes  a 
Tery  obstinate  eonteit»  muzzle  to.  mUzzle* 
through  thejMirt-halesy  in  which  many  of  the 
enemy's  balttr^were  welded  to  the  bayonets  of 
our  musketSt  'our  troops  sUeceeded  In  gaining 
^Bsesslon  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  works. 
The  event  could  no  longer  be  doubtful.  The 
^nemy,  although  piiany  of  them  fought  to  the 
last  with  t&t  kind  of  brayery  whioh  despera- 
tion inspires^  were  at  length  routed  and  cut  to 
pieces.  The  whole  ^margin  of  the  river  which 
surrounded  the  peninsuliiy  was  strewed  With  the 
slain."  ^  The  fighting  continued  wiih  some  set> 
verity  i^out  5  hours.  Five .  hundred  and  fiftyr 
sev^n  of  the  enenty  were  left  dead  on  the  penin«> 
8ula«  and  a  great  number  were  killed  in  attempt- 
ing to  cross  the  river ;  it  wa^  supposed  that  not 
more  than  SO  eseaped.  2^.0  women  and  olillf 
dren  were  taken  prisoners^  Gen.  Jaekson's  loss 
amounted  to  43  white  men  killed,  and  173 
Wounded ;  23  friendly  Indians  killed^  and  ^  4)7 
wounded.  • 

'  'JPhis  vbftttle  broke  down  the  spirits,  as  it  ma** 
terfally  reduced  the  remaining  strength  of  the 
•llVages.  Wetherfurd,  surrendered  himself  to 
gen.  J^okson.  Six  or  seven  towns  followed  the 
exam|ie  of  this  chief.  M^^uetUi  with  500  of 
his  IbllOwers,  l^tired  to  the  Escambia  river* 
near  Pensaci^a^  Peace  was  quickly  restored. 
The  militia  were  disbanded,  and  returned  to 
their  homes. 

.  Wetherford,  whose  unconditional  surrender 
lias  been  just  mentioned,  had  bieen  the  i^fi%t  ac« 
tive  and  sanguinary  of  all  th^  Indian  chiefs.  He 
signalized  himself  in  several  actions :  ever  prer 
sent  where  danger  pressed*  he  was  the  constant 
advocate  of  murder  and  extermination.    Inn 


■• .-  •% 


HtSTORf  9V  ^THE  VfkJt^ 


SOS 


private  interViidIr  y/hh  gen*  Jackson^  he  deliver^' 
ed  the  foHoMring  speech  :^ 

«  I  fought  at  Fort  Mimms— I  fo^t  the  Geor- 
gian army— i-I  did  you  all  the  injury  I  could-— had,  I 
been  supported  as  I  was  promised,  I  would  hav#. 
done  you  more.  .  But  my  warriors  are  all  killed— I 
can  ftght  you  no  longer.  I  look  back  with  sorrowi 
that  I  have  bi*ought  destruction  on  my  nation.  >£ 
am  now  in  yotkr  power— do  with  me  as  you  please,' 
I  am  a  soldier." 

The  barbarous  complexion  which  Ihe  enemy 
gave  to  the  war,  was  not  confined  to  the  em- 
ployment of  Indians.  We  have  already  detailed 
barbarities  in  which  Indians  ^d  hot  partieipate. 
Many  others  must  remain  untold ;  our  limits 
wilL  not  admit  a  full  detail  of  this  part  of  the 
subject.  The  treatment  to  prisoners  of  war 
was  not  merely  i^nusual;  it  was,  in  the  fast' de-. 
gree,  cruel,  *unpreeedented,  barbarous.  The 
authentioated  proofs,,  congressional  reoords,  af- 
fidavits, &c.  are  shoekli^mr  numerous.'    ;^ 

The  exercise,  by  Britain,  of  a  presnmldnl^ht 
to  command,  at  all  times,  the  services  of  nail^e^ 
subjects,  gave  rise  to  one  6f  the  cadses  of  war« 
to  wit,  the  impressment  of  ieamen  out  (^tmitrall, 
vessels  on  the  high  seas.  This  principle,^  was 
intended,  sheuld  govern  the  enemy  in  eonuiuctf, 
ing  the  war* 

The  crew  of  the  tJ.  S.  brig  Nautilus,  which 
had  been  captured  in  Ihe  early  part  of  the  war, 
arrived  at  Boston  in  a  cartel,  the  11th  Septem- 
ber, 1812,  ex<$ept  six  men,  who  were  put  in 
irons;  and  were,  as  lieut.  Crane  understood,  to 
be  tried  for  their  lives  as  British  sul^eets,  found 
in  arms  against  their  l&ing.  Com.  Rodgers,  on 
leiiming  the  oircumstance,  stopped  a  cartdi 
llfhioh  had  ^ot  under  way  for  Haiifazi  and  ionk 


m, 


rts-ji^'-^j 


mil 


HISTOST  <9F 


Win. 


out  tifelve  Englishman  as  hostg^s  for  the  itix 
Amerietins.  ♦ 

p^n  the  1^  Ootohery  six  of  the  erew  of  (he 
priViite  armel  ship  Sarah- Ann»  ivhieh  was  eap- 
tiired^  and  sent  into  Nassau>  were  taken  out  of 
jailt^g^and  sent  to  Jamaicay  to  be  there  tried  as 
firitish  suljeets  found  in  arms  against  their 
i;king. .  It  appears*  that»  on  this  oceasion»  the 
British  ofticer  felt  into  a  mistakCf  similar  to 
those  which  had  been  so  eommonjy  committed 
before  the  Heclaration  of  war;  four  of  the  per- 
sons thmi  detained  were  natives  of  the  United 
States^  the  others  were  Irishmen  hy  birth>  hot 
had  been  naturalized  citizens  of  tlie  United 
States.  On  the  a;  rival  of  eapt.  Moon  (late 
commander  of  the  Sarah-Ann)  at  Cbarlestoo, 
12  Englishmen^  iaeluding  a  midsbipmany  were 
put  in*  close  confinement)  as  hostages  for  the  6 
men  taken  from  eapt.  Moon's  crew. 

By  a  letter  from  Geo.  S.  Wise^  purser  of  the 
Unl^^ States'  sloop  of  war  AVasp,  to  the  seere- 
tarj^f>  war,  it  appears,  that  after  the  cap  lure 
f»i^it  vessel  by  the  British  ship  Poietiers,  12 
9f  the  crew  <»f  the  Wasp  were  detained  bv  eapt. 
Jl^ie^fM^  as  British  subjects. 

"pBlifenen^  intended  to  deny  to  others 
^ei^ililiet  of  rights  in  manner  as  claimed  by 
KimselfS*  ifti^||p^ent»  from  the  circumstanee  of 
^e  British  aoflairal  Warren  having  refused  the 
itberatibn  of  I'homas  Dmta,  a  native  of  the  V. 
I^tes,  because  the  said  Dunn  had  been  married 
in  Rngtandf  Sin^  had  been  eight  JjN^ars  in  his  ma- 
jesty'ji  service.  The  application  for  iiis  libera- 
^on  was  made  by  Mr.  Mitchell  U.  S.  agent  for 
ike  exchange  of  prisoners  at  Halifax,  at  the 
particular  request  of  ihe  father  of  said  Bunn^ 
tiien  residing  at  Boston. 


nfi^f^'l 


jmx€mt  9jk(^az  1MM, 


^im 


>v!ri)reat)r-three.of  the  prisonera,  taken  fay  t|i« 
eneiyi;^  at  (({ueenstown,  nere  sent  to  EiiglaRd^ie 
tiie  -tried  a?  BrkialL  »ubjeot9»  fin  appearing  in 
arms  against  their  king.  ThuDllJiiited  Sim^ 
goir^ninent  ordered  2B  British  soldiers  tn|o 
li^iose  eonfinementy  as  hostages  for  the  sa^t^  e^ 
those  so  taken^at  Queenstown.  In  relaIi^tio9> 
itie  British  governmjBnt.  ordered  46  Un>^ 
StiU^s'  officers  and  non-comoussloned  oSie0n 
into  elosd  and  ngorous  confineinent^ 

The  sj'steia  of  retaliation/  after  this  eironm* 
tlahee*  bore  a  very  serious  aspeet,  att#  threat- 
4}ned  to  be  a^s  extensive  as  prison^s  on  cUhor 
side^werelRimerons.  ^^  ., 

The  seeretary^f  state  transmitted  to  eoh^ 
gress^oii  the  leth  Aprils  is i4/a  vepy  important 
report  on  tjie  8ui](jeet  matter  Avhioh  ied  to  the 
pWtiee  of  retatiadoi^  in  lirhich  it  is  stated* 
that  the  British  government^  among  other  pre» 
te^ts  for  not  disohai^ng  iiti^ens  of  thq  United 
Stales  im^essedintli  their  service,  s^^^f)d» 
that  they  were  natives^f  Prussia,  Swei^^l^. 
thus  eviooing,  th^  the  recovery  of  their -Ml^ 
native^suljects,  was  net  the  8oie  motive  of  1^ 
pressment.    Tlie  speretary  further  rep^t|id]^  .^ 

«  That  all  the  nations  of  Europe  nattli^a^e  (o- 
reignbrs:  ' 

^  •*  That  they  all  employ  in  theiri%woe  thi^  m\^ 
jectsofeaeh  other,  and  frequently  Ijg^instij^^r  ikia 
tive  countries,  even  wk  :^ti  not  regularly  natWilz^dV 

"■That  although  Samples  muy  be fpund  of  the 
ptniishmentof  meir  native  sul^jects  taken  in  arms 
ag;tdnst  them,  the  exaniples  are  few,  and  liave  ei» 
therbeen  marked  by  peculiar  crrcumstunees  taking 
them  out  of  the  controverted  principle,  or  have  pPo9 
ceeded  fN^nt  the  passions:  or  policy  of  the.  qccaiom 
feven  in  prosecutions  an^  conviciious  havin^jf  ti^f 


s 


soil 


liUTOBT  OETflU  WAH.' 


fi'.  ■ 


0      * 


latter  origin,  the  finftl  act  of  punial^meiit  has*^  with 
ittle  exception,  been  prevented  l>y  a  sense  of  equi- 
ty iHdidreado^taliaaon.  It  is  confidently  beliey. 
ed  #at  no  lollmce  can  b^  found  in  wbicii  the  al- 
ledjged  ^urposeii  of  the  enemy  a^^ainst  the  2:^  prnon- 
erein^  question,  under  all  the  circumstances  which 
belong  to  their  case,  even  thoujjK  any  of  them  ipay 
n^ot  have  been  regtilarly  naturalized,  are  countenan- 
ced by  the  proceedings  of  any  European  nation.** 

A  publicatioir,  of  which  th^  following  isji 
copy,  appeared  f rom  tb.e  navy  department  of 
the  United  States  the  28th  July,  1814-,  and  waa 
understood  to  be  a  relinqui^liment  of  the  system 
af  i^etaliation,  on  ^e  part  of  England  and  of  the 
Uhfted  States ;  the  23  American  soldiers,  sent 
to  En^and,  and  all  other  Amerleansi  held  by 
the  entray  as  hostages,  having  been  restored  to 
the  state  tff  ordinary  piisoliers. 

(( All  officers,  seamen  and  marines  of  the  ^  U.  S. 
Navy,  captured  by  the  troops  or  vessels,  within  the 
command  of  Sir  George  Prevost,  prior  to  the  Ijith 
day  ^  April  last,  have  been  duly  exchanged,  and 
de^i^red  competent  to  serv#  against  the  enemy. 
Jj&eywill  therefore  immediately  report  themselves 
to  the  commanding  naval  officer  of  the  station  on 
whic^^hey  lire  or  may  arrive.*^* 

?;  The  timeywheii  the  armies  must  be  in  winter 
quarters,  ani<  the  officers  les»  engaged  than 
they  would  Wat  another  season,  was  chosen 
for  the  trial  of  gen.  Hull*  A  general  court 
martial  assembled  for  that  purpose  at  Alhany, 
the  5th  JmMj9  ISl^,  ano  pmceeded  in  the 
ti^Bl»#M>mitkBe  to  timei  until  the  fth  Mareh. 
floree  charges  were  ^rcfented  against  himf 
f(^  wit,  trea$mi  against  tlae  ITntted  States  ;  eoio- 
wrAke;  BXMi'pegleet  €f  duty  aiifl  nnofficer-^Uke . 
«9ndifc^— tow  whii£^  lie  pleaded  mtigv^ 


>j2. 


JIZftTOSY  OT  THX  VtAM, 


m 


Tbe  general,  having  protested  against  the 
eompeteney  of  the  eourt  to  try  the  first  eharM 
the  court  dcoliiie^i^akiDg  any  formal  deehion 
on  it ;  but  yet  gave  an  opinion  that  nothiilrg  ap- 
pear^.to  them  i¥hieh  could  justiQ'  the""  charge. 

The  ooupt  acquitted  him  of  that  part  6f  ib^r 
third  specification  winch  ch^irgcs  liiin  wiCli  hav- 
ing* «  forbidden  the  American  arliHcry  to  fire 
on  t^e  enl)my»  on  their  march  towards  thb  said 
Fort  Detroit/'  and  found  him  guilty  of  the  first, 
second  part  of  th6  thir^  and  the  fourth  speeMU 
cations. 

>  -0|l  the  third  charge^  the  court  found  the  ae- 
eusCd  guilty  of  neglect  of  d^y  in  omitting  sea- 
sonably to  inspect,'  trrin,  exercise,  and  or^r 
th6try|ls  under  his  command,  oreansethem 
to  be  done.  Th(^y  also  fouvd  him  guilty  of  part 
of  the  fourth  an(f  fifth  specificatitins,  and  the 
whole  of  the  sixth  fi^d  seventh;  and  acquitted 
him  of  the  second  and  third,  and  part  of  the 
fourth  and  fifth  specifications. 

The  court  sel^enccd  <*  the  said  br%Adi«P^ 
general  yilliam  Hull  to  be  shot  to  dCath^  two 
thirds  of  the  court  concurring  in  the  sentenbe." 
*  The  president,  of  the  United  States  approved 
the  sentence,  remitted  the  exeeutiod>  and  olpder- 
cd  the  name  of  gen.  Hull  to  be  erased  from  the 
list  of  the  army' 

The  general,  in  an  address  to  the  people  of 
4he  United  States,  appealed  to  their  deeision 
^against  the  verdict,  and  sentence  of  the  eouH, 
declarmg  himself  innocent,  notwithstan^ding  the 
terdict,  and  charging  the  government  with  pet' 
seeution  and  in  justice  to  hlmii^V 

A  circumstance  of  gre,at  inti»*est,  andwhieh 
Inlght  have  a  great  eff'ect  on  the  war  between 
Oreat-Britain  and  the  Unital  States,  occurred 


."    s 


.'*. 


ii^^' 


AM 


mmovw  01  tvm  w^Hb 


y  . 


iiilltare1i,48Hi>  On  the  Slat  of  that  inoiitli» 
Ibe  djied  armies  of  Austria*  Prussiay  and  Rut* 
^ili^aded  1^f|)M^H*  t^^^P^^^  80verri«iii«  tri* 
m^antly  eiileled  the  l^l^cli  ea|iit^,  over- 
ihrew  ifie  Bonapartcan  dytiastr,  s<^t  its  chief 
into  exite»^and  replaecd  LanU  XYlII.  on  tb^ 
throne  of  his'aneestors. 

liithcrto  Iho  power  of  England  was  divided 
heiween  makinfir  war  on  jPranee  and  Ihe  United 
States  of  America ;  ii  was  tj^  fie  nOw  entifelv 
l4irned  aeainst  the  lattPT,  at  loast  so  the  9r!ii»& 
editors  tnreafcned.  Indeed  Ameiiea would ern* 
tainiy  he  puiiishedt.  overtlirownr  r0-8ul^u^fed» 
and  enslave^y  if  ||^0djtoi''slead  eouldJSe  ibrm* 
e^ilito  halls,  inst^  of  iyptn,  and  thoM^jirfessedl 
into  eannon^  instealt  of  heing  pressed  c^^per. 

TlirBcw  situatiop  of  affairs  in  Bui^o^y  crem- 
ated much  'alarniy  hiit  no  detpoadency  in  Amer- 
ica. The  citizens  saw  thi<||approaeli  of  a  <'erri* 
lile  conflict,  hut  they  resoIVea  to  meet  it,  Tlio 
legions,  whioli  gained  the  oharaoter  of  <<  invin* 
«lDle,^  i»  Spain,  iPortugal  aitil  France,  were  to 
he  Tomited  on  tliesikores  of  Amerieaf  thethou^ 
sand^  s||ips  of  Britain  were  to  Idoolcade  the 
lioast ;  BriMsh  tars,  without  numher,  were  to 
eOve9*0ie  lilies  ;  aad  these  myriads,  by  sea  and 
by  land,,  were  to  be  directed,  by  those  eomman* 
dei!>s  who  swept  the  European  navies  IVom  the 
oeean,  and  out-ri?aled  the  best  generals  of  the 
first  warrior  in  the  world.  Yet,  notwithttand- 
Jjlg  these  exterminating  threats  and  gloomy 
^prospects,  America  wasdestined  to  preserve  her 
liwependonee  aud  hoBor ;  aiid  to  gather  more 
hiuribrin  18|4,  than  silled  in  any  fbrmer  year 
of  this  war:  '4 

A  small  quantify  of  sf  ores,  intended  vfortlie 
ifle  of  the  army  audi  fleet  ai^Sackelt^ft  Barhoi^ 


ifiisr 


aiSTOItT   07  TAB  WAS. 


im 


vrert  deposkeil  at  Fort  Oswego ,  atidai^8i4- 
crable  qua|ili(y  0i|  the  Falls,  10  piilcs  ill  tfiNB 
reai^  cf  tmi  fort. '  l|||e  eneDiy  prep>iired  an'  ex- 
pedition to  seize  both.  IJeut.  ooK  Mitcmt),  of 
tbe  artillcr)',  arrived  at  Oswego  on  the  ^Otli 
April,  1814.,  for  the  proteetioo  oit  that  plaee^ 
Which  he  fottiid  in  a»Terv  had  state  of  defence. 
Of  cann^  there  were  but  5  gun«,  3  of  whioh 
had. lost  t^eir  trunnidns,  liVhat  eould  be  done 
in  ihe  way  of  re|lair,  was  effected  $  new  |dat- 
forms  were  laijj,  the  gtiD-earriages'^^t  in  or- 
der, and  decayed  pickets  re-plaeed.  At  day- 
light on  the  morning  of  the  fith  May,  a  British 
i^aVal  force  of  4  ships,  3  hj^f^  and  a  number 
of  gBi||i|nd  other  boats,  Wcire  discovered  at  a- 
bout  rmiles  f^om  the  fort.  The  force,  at  the 
fort,  consisted  of  299  effectives,  Thehj|  were 
too  few  for  the  purpose  of  defence.  It  bccanie 
necessary  to  disguiMf  this  we^lincss,  ahdioHeep 


o'clock,  15  large  bai'ges»  erowded  M^llji  men, 
inoved  towai*d  the  side  opposite  that  oit!^w:M*k 
the  tents  were  pitched*  and  whei-e  there  ;;p||CJir*- 
ed  tlie  least  sIjow  of  rcsistanee.  iThefto  were 
preceded  by  gun^boats,  to  cover  the  Jamllng.— 
As  soo.n  as  the  boats  ;^-ot  witliin  the  range  of 
«hot,  a  very  suceessfiil  fire^was  bpcne<lfroni  the 
shore-batterv,  whieh  compeired  them  to  rciire 
twice,  when  they  stood  off,  and  returned  to|heir 
ships.  Some  boats,  which  had  bct*n  <^le.scift<'d, 
were  taken  up  bythe  mililia,  one  of  tiihc  boats 
was  60  feet  long,  a^  could  Accommodate  150 

At tfiy  break,  on  the  6th,  the  fleet  aguin  ap- 
proached the  fort.    The  liVcHfe,  and  other  ves* 


.^rK 


*»   '1 


n0 


XISTOBT  OV  TRX  WAS. 


irTi,  kept  up  ft  fire  for  3  hours  Rgainit  tlie  (^rt 
Slid  MteHet*  Col.  MitolieM^  finding  that  the 
eofily  had  biiifed  about  fUllw-  meuy  withdrew 
Ml  Mlill  fbreo  into  the  rear  of  the  fort ;  and^ 
with  two  oompfuiiesr  (^Romayne  and  Melvia^s) 
met  their  ailtvaiieing  co1uinni»  while  the  other 
eompanies  engaieed  the  fiai|)Ls  of  the  enemy .V«^ 
"With  Ihe  aid  oflieui  Peii^coy  of  the  vfyfp  and 
some  seamea^  the  little  Ameriean.  hatid  main* 
tained  ke  i^oiiiid  Ibr  hitf  an.  hour^  Col.  Mitefa-^ 
ell  then  marohedhift  thvee>  but  not  preeipitato- 
fy»  to  the  ihlT»»  destroying  the  brklges  In  hi!|r 
year.  The  enemy »  although  eomnuuided -hy 
fen^  Drummon^Wd  eoni»  Yeo^  did  not  think 
]fMer  to.  pursue  the  ooloneL  They  bii|g|ip  the 
ddnarraei^*  and  evaeuated.the  fhrtr«^utd» 
o^e]o<^,  in  Ihe  monriog  of  the  7thv. 

The  Amerieau  ioen  amounted  to0  ftillied^  S8; 
wodhdett  and  t&  ttii88{nfl--motal  6d».  Desei'lera 
Jrom  the enopr  stated  his  Ipss  to  hero  killed, 
MB  wonndeipfrowned  and  |n^sing---totalv2S£*. 
flight  |4eees  of  oaimon>  and  mme  stores,  #orth 
mbmit  '1^  dollars^  IhH  into. the  enemy's  hands. 

iPaiii  oeoasioj|»  did  the  Amerieans  ibserye 
letter  (^  their  e«ililtfy  |  at  no  titae  befol^,  did 
<li#lttemy  Imy  iii(»tory  with  fess  advantage  ta 
hiiiisdf»  or  at  a  dearer  priook  The  eompanies^ 
under  eommand"  of  col.  MitoheU^  consist*^  or 
di^le'sy  Romayne%  M4ntire*s  atidFieieeV 
..IteaVy  artiliery^anda  1!^  seamen  f  in  ally  |esa 
:0ian  too  men.  Twlee  Ihey  iepnl^dy  aiil^t 
JMittd^ 'two  days  maintained  aeontest  i^^Kliist 
jtfiwd^iam  their  numbery  and  finaify  sueeeeded 
in  prece^ng  the  stores  lut  ihe  fall8».the  loss  of 
whieh  would  n|aterial||  JpP«^  ^e  operationa 
of  the  army  mmmyj/  The  enemy  earriod  ^ 

to  «rilM  uMriiiid  iUmhitaiito  if  tka  v«giktpi^ 


/^M"^ 


n 


uvrrofRW  ov  rm  vim. 


Sit 


■♦ 


who  ure'ro  stated  in  the  British  ret»ort>  at  so  inft> 
Bj  prisoners. 

i>n  the  SOth  Mi^apt.  Woofscy,  «»rtli«rofi« 
ty,  being  on  his  returii  Arpm  Oswego,  wiilf  16 
boats,  carrying  a  number  of  eannon,  and  a 
quantity  of  rigging  for  the  new  vessels  at  Sae- 
KQtt*8  Harbor,  put  into  Sandy-Creek,  about  16 ' 
miles  Arom  tfte  Harbon  Fearing  an  attacK 
from  the  enemy,  major  Apling  was  plaeed,  with 
120  riflemen,  and- «  few  of  the  Oneida  Indians* 
in  the  woods,  on  eieh  side  of  the  ereek )  a  l^w 
raw  militia  were  sent  to  make  a  show  of  resisf* 
anee.  The  plan  sueeeeded ;  the  militia,  on  tho 
first  IXi^from  the  enemy,  retreated  in  apparent 
eonfull||^^nd  Were  pursued  until  the  entirf 
passed^ffil  riflemen  and  Indians,  who  were  iii^ 
ambush.-  The  enemy  was  attacked  in  rei|r^ 
while  a  battery  of  4  field  pieces  opened  on  hittk 
in  flront.  '  The  contest  was  noTof  long  duration* 
AftertlO  lilinutes  fightings  the  ejpny  surren- 
dereii^V  The  encju^ost  a  post-eii^dns,  4  lien- 
tenantif  of  the  rO^PV ifavy,  prisoners ;  Si  lleuteOfi-' 
ants  of  marines,  Wttunded,  and  prisoi^ers ;  t 
midshipman^  and  IS  sailors  and  marines,  KUIcd  ;. 
%S  sailors  and  marines  wounded»  and  ISS  ftai|prs 
and  inarines,  prisoners— total  1 83.  2  gun-boita 
and  6  barfl|es  were  taken.  Only  one  Amerieaiiv 
was  wounded;.  ,^ 

Oil*  the  15tKMay,  the  enemy  landed  scTcral 
]iiini|Md  men  at  Pultneyyille,  (which  is  on  tho 
mar^li  of  Lake  Ontario  A  and  took  possession 
of  106  barrels  damaged  flour,  whift)ft  w«re  in  a 
store  elose  by  the  lal^*  €leD«^8wlftVoii;hearing 
of  the  advance  of  the^enemy,  rea^M^  INiltney'^ 
tille  with  about  ia0V0lui||eer8andn)ilitia;but| 
deemiiig  this  force  too  small  tifr  oppose  a  nu^ 
fi  wiUiin  range  of  the  gunt  of  hil 


*■ 


212 


UISTOBT  OF  THE  WAR. 


fleet,  he  did  not  dispute  the  possession  of  the 
damaged  flour  ;  but  finding  the  enemy  proceed- 
ing to  other  dcprodutions,  lie  commenced  a  lire 
on  him  from  an  adjacent  woody  which  wounded 
several  and  compelled  him  to  re-embark,  when 
a  cannonade  commenced  from  the  fleet  on  the 
town,  without  doing  material  injury.  A  large 
quantity  of  flour  was  deposited  about  a  mile 
from  the  town,  which  the  enemy  chose  to  fore- 
go the  plunder  of,  rather  than  trust  themselves 
in  the  woods  with  gen.  Swift  and  his  riflemen. 
•  In^his  month,  col.  Campbell,  (19th  infantry) 
with  a  detachment  of  5  or  600  mcHy  and  some 
seamen  acting  as  artillerists,  crossed  frond  Erie 
to  Long-Point,  About 50  British  dragoons  sta- 
tioned there  as  an  out-post  and  guard  to  public 
stores,  made  their  escape.  The  mills  (employed 
in  manufacturing  flour  for  the  enemy,  and  some 
houses  occupied  as  stores,  were  burned.  When 
the  party  returned,  without  losing  a  man. 

The  following  transactio%wilii  the  enemy's 
fleet  on  Lake  Champlain,  will  be  best  explain- 
ed by  giving  the  following  extract  of  a  letter 
from  major-general  Izard  commanding  the  first, 
or  division  of  the  right,  dated  at  his  head-quar- 
ters, May  17. 

«  On  receiving  notice  of  the  enemy's  proceeding 
up  the  lake  on  the  13th  inst.  a  detachment  of  light 
artillery,  under  the  command  of  capt.  Thornton,  of 
that  corps,  was  Hispatched  in  waggons  from  Bur- 
lington to  Vergennes,  where  they  manned  the  bat- 
tery at  the  mouth  of  Otter  Creek.  At  day- break, 
(on  the  14th)  the  enemy  attacked  with  his  whole 
force,  and  after  a  severe  cannonade  of  two  hours 
»nd  a  hUf,  during  which  they  suffered  very  consid- 
erably, they  withdrew  to  repair  damages.  Yesterr, 
day  they  departed  this  place,  having  some  of  their 
vessels  in  tow,  and  are  gone  to  their  own  port8<— * 


BISTQXT  OF  THE  WAB. 


2U 


Two^of  their  galleys  are  said  to  be  missing.  No 
damage  was  done  on  oar  side,  excepting  dismount- 
ing one  gun  in  the  batter^)  by  which  two  men  were 
slightly  wounded;"     - 

The  Chesapeake  Bay  was  likely^  and  provedf 
to  (Continue  a  theatre  of  the  enemy's  depreda- 
tions. A  number  of  boats,  carrying  heavy  me- 
taU  were  constructed  In  IVlareb,  1814<»  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  for  the  protection  of 
the  bay,  and  the  command  of  them  given  to  that 
intrepid  officer,  commodore  Barney.  This  lio- 
tilla  proved  a  great  Rnnoyan(*e  to  the  enemy* 
was  an  ofhject  of  his  constant  attention,  and 
Was  finally  destroyed^  as  will  be  hereafter  par- 
ticularly detailed. 

The  jfnemy  had  a  skirmish  on  the  29tk'  May» 
with  the  Accom|ck  militia,  which  reflected  the 
highiest  honor  oii  the  latter.  Between  6  and  7 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  entered  tite 
Pam^oteaque  creek.  They  were  at  first  most 
gallantly  met  by  2d  lieut.  Underbill*  of  the  ar- 
$ler^  and  6  or  T^inen,  who  stood  the  fire  of 
their  18  pounders,  grape,  musketry  and  Con- 
grove  rockets,  then  within  60  yards,  whca  lieut* 
Underbill,  finding  all  further  resistance  utterly 
useless,  and  not  having  a  sufiieient  force  to  re- 
move the  artillery,  caused  it  to  be  spiked,  and 
retreated.  The  piece  fell  Into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  wl»o  also  destroyed  some  trifling  build- 
ings, which  had  been  occupied  as  barracks.— —» 
Fining  no  resistance  from  the  point  which 
lieut.  Underbill  had  occupied,  they  commenced 
thf^ir  landing,  and  in  a  few  minutes  had  from 
450  to  500  men,  200  of  whom  were  negroes,  all 
well  armed,  formed,  and  advancing  from  the 
shore,  the  negroes  in  front.  From  the  place 
df  t|ieir  landing,  they,  marched  about  three 


s 


214* 


HISTORY  OT  THE  WAH: 


.1:- 


quarters  of  a  mile  into  the  country,  where  they 
.^ere  met  by  a  party  of  militia,  not  more  than 
25  in  number.  This  little  band  stood  for  two 
hours,  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy.  At  this 
tiine  the  militia  began  to  collect,  which  the  en- 
emy perceiving,  retreated  to  his  ships,  and  thus 
escaped  being  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners. 
During  their  stay  on  land,  the  enemy  commit- 
ted several  petty  robberies  and  shameful  exces- 
ses, carrying  away  bacon,  poultry,  clothes,  ke. 
Commodore  Barney  got  under  way  on  the  1st 
June,  with  bis  flotilla,  in  the  Patuxent,  with  the 
intention  to  engage,  or  chase  away  the  enemy. 
Oyit approaching  them,  he  discovered  2  sehoon- 
e|*8,  one  a  full  rigged,  showing  9portsonaside^ 
Whei|  off  St.  Jerome's,  he  discovered  a  large 
ship  tinder  way,  and  that  ^he  Jiad  despatched  a 
number  of  boats  to  the  aid  of  the  schoofiiers. 
The  wind  having  veered  sq  as  to  prove  unnivor- 
fible  to  the  flotilla,  the  comhiodore  made  signal 
for  the  Patuxent,  and  was  followed  by  a  74,  3 
schooners^  and  7  barges.  After  doublinifroumd 
Ced|p-point,  in  the  mouth  of  the  river,  he  found 
thai  gfkn-boat  No.  157,  was  so  far  astiern,  that 
she  must  be  taken,  or  saved  by  an  engagement. 
The  commodore  brought  the  Scorpion  and  gun- 
boat No,  138,  to  anchor,  sent  men  on  board  the 
boat  137,  to  row  and  tow  her  in,  and'  signaled 
his  other  vessel^  to  return  and  join  him.  The . 
Seorpion,  and  boat  138,  opened  a  Are  on  a  .large 
schooner,  and  a  number  of  barges,  which  had 
got  ahead  of  the  boat  137.  The  commodore's 
barges,  at  this  time,  had  returhcd,  and,  rowing 
down  on  the  enemy,  gave  them  a  number  of 
shots,  and  (hen  returned  into  port  with  all  the 
flotilla.  This  bold  exploit  did  great  honor  to 
Biarncy  and  his  crews. 


UII^ORT  OF  THE  IYjUU 


215 


It  enemy  landed  at  Cedar-point,  in  ibe  even- 
ing of  the  4th  Jane,  and  carried  oft'  several  ne- 
groes, and  eonsiderable  stock  from  the  planta- 
tion of  Mr.  Sewal. 

The  enemy's  squadron,  being  reinforced  l^y  a 
Fazce  and  a  sloop  of  war,  the  eomrao'dore  mov- 
ed his  flotilla  up  to  the  mouth  of  St.  Leonard's 
creek.  At  5,  P.  M .  the  8th  June,  he  perceived 
a  ship,  a  brig,  2  schooners  and  ±5  barges,  com- 
ing up  the  Patuxent,  whereOn  the  commodore 
moved  his  flotilla  about  two  miles  up  the  ereek^ 
and  there  moored  them  in  line  abreast,  across 
the  channel,  and  prepared  for  action.  At  8  A. 
M.  the  enemy's  barges  came  up  the  creeks  the 
ship,  &e.  were  anchored  at  the  mouth  #  the 
creek  ;  a  rocket  barge  v/as  advanced  on  the  fTb- 
tilla.  At  this  time,  the  commodore  got  his 
barges  (13  in  number)  underway,  leaving  the. 
Seoi^pion  and  gun- boats  at  anchor,  and  rowed 
down  upoii^he  enemy,  when  they  precipitately 
salted  and  rowed  ofi^,  with  all  their  means.  The 
comipiidore  pursued  them,  until  near  their  ship- 
ping, vhen  his  barges  were  brought  back  to 
theii^moorings.  In  tk«'.  afternoon  the  enemy 
came  up  the  creek  again,  threw  some  rockets, 
and  were  again  pursued,  and  driven  out  of  the 
creek,  by  the  flotilla. 

The  situation  of  commodore  Barney,  and  his 
flotilla,  in  St.  Leonard's  creek,  was  really  un- 
pleasant and  critical.  He  was,  however,  re- 
lieved, by  a  bold  and  successful  attack  on  the 
enemy  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  June. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  commodore  Bar- 
ney's report,  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy : 

(<  Sir— This  morukig,  at  4  A.  M.  a  combined  at- 
tack of  the  artillery,  n^arine  corps  and  flotilla,  was 
made  upon  the  enemy's  two  frigates  at  the  mouth 


■> 


r*? 


216 


niSTOBY   OF  TUS   WAR. 


of  the  creek.  After  two  hours'  en^agemeiit).  they 
got  under  way  and  made  sail  down  the  river.  They 
are  now  warping  round  Point  Patience,  and  1  am 
moving  up  the  Patuxent  with  my  flotilla.  My  loss 
is  acting  midshipman  Asquitht  killed,  and  ten  oth- 
(;r8|  killed  knd  wounded.     WitK  respect,  &c. 

^  «.  JOSHUA  BARN  EY.?» 

.  In  June,  tbo  enemy  landed  about  400  men, 
and  burned  the  tobacco  ware-bouses  at  liOWCL* 
JVIarlborough,  and  Magruder's  feiTj,  &nd  also 
CoIe*»  ware-house.  It  is  impossible^  in  our  pre- 
sent limits,  to  detail  eirery  |)etty  and  ivanton 
net  of  an  unprincipled  and  mean  enemy  ;  where 
li^  tcdiild  renlove  the  plundered  property,  he 
remc^^  it ;  what  he  could  not  remove,  he  de- 
stroyed. In  Calvert,  near  Lower  jVlarlbbrough, 
they  ibrced  away  with  them  some  negroes; also 
took  some  cattle  and  poultry.^ 

A  person  who  repaired  to  the  scene  of  (lepre- 
<1ation,  after  the  enemy  ha#i*etir^,  wroie  to 
liis  friend  ||n  Baltimore,  «« It  would  ha v^  dis- 
tressed yoii  to  see  the  tobacco  at  Magiiider's, 
burning,  as  I  did,  this  evening.  Eleveniiun- 
dred  hogsheadSf  nearly  all  consumed,  and^bout 
jfoiii*  hundred  at  Lower  Marlborough,  where 
the/ took  a  schooner  (capt.  David's)  iind  loaded 
her." 

'  The  enemy  pei*formed  one  exploit,  which,  if 
not  tatnished  by  the  barb^^rous  use  he  made  of 
eonquest,  would  have  left  him  onei  instance  of 
victory  not  petty. 

The  enemy  appeared  in  great  force  in  the 
Chesapeake,  about  the  middle  of  August.-——' 
More  thlin  50  of  his  vessels  entered  the  Patux- 
ent,  and  landed  about  5000  Jroops  and  marines, 
ohiefly  about  Benedict,  40  miles  southeast  of  the 
«ity  of  Washington.    The  force,  at  the  dlsposi- 


SISTOBT  OT  THE  VfAM* 


nr 


Immi  of  gem  /Winder,  was,  unfortunately,  inade- 
quate to  defend  tlie  city  ;  and  it  fell  into  the 
power  of  tlie  enemy.  The  entire  force  of  every 
description  which  could  he  collected  to  oppose 
the  enemy,  did  not  exceed  5000  men;  these* 
however,  would  haveheen  sufficient  for  the  pur- 
pose, had  they  all  acted  with  equal  ^rmness. 

On  the  92d,  the  British  flankers  approached 
the  wdod-yard^  12  miles  from  the  city,  where 
gen.  Winder,  with  his  main  body  was  posted.— 
The  line  of  battle  was  formed  by  the  American 
troops,  but  the  eaeuiy  filed  off  to  the  left.  At  d 
o^clock,  commodore  Barney  caused  h'.s  ilotilla 
to  be  destroyed,  and  he  proceeded  \iith  his  m^n 
to  take  post  in  front  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d,  gen.  Winder's 
liead-quarter'S  were  at  BattaUon  Fields f  within 
8  miles  of  the  city,  and  a  short  distance  from 
Bladensburg.  At  1  o'clock,  on  the^th,  the 
army  was  posted  on  the  right  of  Bladensburg, 
about  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  village.  The 
artillery,  from  Baltimore,  supported  by  major 

Einckney's  rifle  battalion,  and  a  part  of  captain 
loughty^s,  from  the  navy-yard,  were  in  advance, 
to  command  the  pass  of  the  bridge  at  Bladens- 
burg. Soon  after  1  o'clock,  the  enemy  appear-^ 
ed,  advancing  toward  the  bridge  over  the  east-* 
ern  branch.  When  they  reached  the  bridge, 
which  they  did  in  solid  column,  the  artillery  o* 
petied  a  warm  fire  on  them,  and  the  riflemen, 
and  a  regiment  of  militia,  were  soon  engaged. 
Before  2  o'clock,  the  enemy  advanced  »o  close 
on  the  Baltimore  volunteers,  as  to  force  them 
to  retreat,  bringing  with  them  their  artiIf<Ty 
and  arms,  except  one  piece  which  was  lost  by 
the  unruliness  of  the  horses.  The  retreat  was 
not  the  effect  of  cowardice,  for  no  men  could 

T 


!ei8 


HISTORT  OF  THE  WAR. 


behave  vfiih  more  honor  to  themselves.  While 
they  fought^  they  mtide  a  galling  impression  on 
the  enemy;  and  when  forced  to  yield  before 
numbers  vastly  superior,  they  would,  no  doubt, 
have  yet  sought  a  place  from  which  to  triumph 
in  a  contest  so  handsomely  began,  but  they  were 
not  proplrly  supportecj.  The  right  and 
centre  of  Stansbury's  brigade,  consisting  of 
lieut.  eol.  Kagan  and  Shuler's  regiments,  gene- 
rally gave  way,  and  fled  in  disorder,  nor  could 
they  be  rallied,  wiih  the  exception  of  abouf^  4o 
men,  and  a  part  of  ca^t.  Bhower's  company, 
both  of  whom,  even  thus  deserted,  made  a  gal- 
lant bi|t  ineffectual  stand.  Col.  Ragan,  in  his 
gireat  eifortji  to  rally  his  men,  was  wounded, 
and  taken  prisoner.  The  5th  Baltimore  regi- 
ment^ under  lieut.  col.  Sterrett,  being  the  left 
of  gen.*  Stansbury's  brigade,  still  stood  their 
ground,  and,  except  for  a  moment,  when  part  of 
them  recoiled  a  few  steps,  remained  firm  until 
ordered  to  retreat. 

The  reserve,  under  general  Smith,  of  the 
Bistrict  of  Columbia,  with  the  militia  of  the  ci- 
ty and  Georgetown,  with  the  regulars,  and  some 
detachments  of  Maryland  militia,  llanked  on 
their  right  by  com.  Barney  and  bis  men,  and 
col.  Beal,  maintained  the  contest  with  great  ef- 
fect, until  overpowered  by  numbers.  Barney 
:lnd  his  gallant  men  had  just  gained  the  ground 
from  a  station  near  the  navy  yard,  and  opened 
from  three  18  pounders,  a  fire,  which,  for  the 
time  it  lasted,  and  considering  the  means,  was 
perhaps  the  most  destructive  and  active  that 
bas  ever  been  experienced.  The  brave  Barney 
jfeU,  severely  wounded,  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  His  men  fought^  under  his  orders,  un- 
1^  the  eneiby  reached  nearly  to  the  muzzles  of 


lUSTOBT  OF  TBB  VAB. 


219 


the  gunsy  nor  did  they  retire,  until  ordered  to  do 
sOy  after  every  hope  of  victory  vanislied.  The 
enemy  treated  the  commbdore  ^ith  that  courte- 
sy and  attention  ^hieh  his  splendid  merit  could 
not  fail  to  inspire. 

The  battle  being  now  over^  after  continuing 
more  than  an  hour,  gen.  Uosi,  ivho  commanded 
the  land  force,  and  admiral  Coekburn,  who  com- 
manded  the  seamen  and  marines,  entered  the 
city  with  a  part  of  their  forces.  And  now,  he- 
gaiia  scene,  which,  in  the  opinion  even  of  a  sa- 
vage, would  disgrace  the  characters  while  living, 
and,  after  death,  consign  to  eternid  infamy,  the 
names  of  these  two  commanders. '  Never  will 
barbarism  and  the  fate  of  Washington  Vt  coup- 
led in  history,  without  being  accompanied  by 
the  names  of  Ross  and  Cockburn.  The  de- 
Scruction  of  private  property  would  be  in  char- 
acter with  the  conduct,  which  disgraced  the 
British  arms  in  the  Chesapeake  and  elsewhere. 
The  triumphant  entry  of  the  marauders  into  the 
capital  of  an  infant  republic,  gave  them  an  op- 
portunity  of  proving  the>espeet  in  which  they 
held  the  arts,  sciences  and  literature.  «  They," 
to  use  the  words  of  president  Madison's  procla- 
inatiqn,  <<  wantonly  destroyed  the  public  edifi- 
ces, having  no  relation  in  their  structure  to  op- 
erations of  war,  nor  used,  at  any  time,  for  mili« 
tary  annoyance  ;  some  of  these  edifices  being 
also  costly  monuments  of  taste  and  of  the  arts, 
and  others,  depositories  of  the  public  archie ves, 
not  only  precious  to  the  nation,  as  the  memori- 
als ofits  origin,  and  its  early  transactions,  but 
interesting  to  all  nations,  as  contributions  to  the 
general  stock  of  historical  instruction  and  polit- 
ical science.*'  With  the  public  buildings,  the 
Qatlppal  library  was  destroyed,     Cockburn  at- 


V. 
/ 


826 


BI8T0BT  07  THE  tfAX. 


^ 


tended^  in  person^  to  the  destruction  of  tbfs 

firintingi  materials,  in  the  office  of  the  National 
nteUieencer.  A  few  private  buildings  were 
burned.  The  navy-yardji  with  all  its  shipping 
and  stores,  including  a  new  frigate  and  sloop  of 
war,  were  destroyed,  previous  to  its  occupation 
by  the  enemy.  The  British  army  fetii^ed  in 
the  night  of  the  25th,  in  prudent  hurry,  and 
with  studied  silence,  leaving  several  of  their 
wounded  behind,  and  some  of  their  dead,  unbu- 
ried.  The  American  loss  was  i^tated  by  general 
"Winder,  to  be  between  ao  and  40  killed  from 
50  to  GO  wounded,  and  about  120  tnken  prison- 
ers. «  From  the  best  intelligence,''  says  the 
gfeherar,  «  there  remains  but  little  doubt,  that 
the  enemy  lost,  at  least,  400  killed  and"  wound- 
ed, and  of  these,  a  very  unusual  portion  kil- 
led." 

Furt  Warburton  having  been  deserted  by  the 
XT.  S.  troops,  and  consequently  destroyed  by  the 
enemv,  the  latter  advanced  towards  Alexandria, 
the  civil  authority  of  whiefa,  submitted  to  the 
xnost  disgraceful  terms  of  capitulation)  by  which 
the  city  was  given  up  to  plunder..*  The  enemy 
^carried  off  14  vesseh,  laden  with  flour,  tobacco> 
cotton,  groceries,  and  a  variety  of  geods^  taken 
from  the  private  stores.  ^'l 

A  series  of  the  most  dnring  exertions  were 
made  by  commodores  Rodgers,  Porter  ^ind  Per- 
ryt  with  their  seamen,  and  some  of  the  Tirginia 
militia,  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  enemy  with 
his  booty,  but  he  got  off,  with  some  loss,  taking 
the  plunder  with  him .  Terms,  similar  to  those 
accepted  by  Alexandria,  were  oflered  to  George- 
town, which  the  latter  indignantly  rejected,  and 
escaped  being  plundered. 
The  enemy  attempted  to  justify  his  predatory 


"uvtwi- 


•Vl'^Jt.' 


(aA^^^  ^^ 


III8T0BT   OV  TU£  ^VAH. 


22jl 


war  rare  in  the  Chesapeake*  and  elsewlMie*  by 
protess^ngy  that  he  acted  in  retaliation  oPexees- 
ses,  said,  Dy  him,  to  have  been  comnilttfd  by 
ihe  armies  of  the  tJnited  States,  in  Canada.— 
Nothing,  however,  could  be  farther  from  truth. 
The  conduct  of  the  repubtiean  armies  eould^  Uy 
iiofairconstruction,  justify  the  barbarities  of 
the  enemy,  and  it  was  well  known,  that  therob- 
berie»*and  destruction  of  private  property  and 
buildings,  particularly  ii^  the  vicinity  of  the 
Chesapeake,  and  its  tributary  streams,  had,  in 
many  instances,  preeeded  those  »ai4l  to  have  |>een 
committed  by  the  Amerieansr 

Hie  eiiemy,  probably  em|[ioldened  by  his  suc- 
cess at^Washington,  projected  a  descent  on,  and 
of  cdursey  the  plundering  and  banking,  tbe.city 
of  Half i more.  Tlie  movfpments  of  the  encm^v 
hayingled  to  a  suspicion  of  his  design,  general 
Sa,nuel  Smith,  the  revolittlonary  hero  and  de- 
fender of  JViud-fort,  mji^e  some  early  disposi- 
tions to  repel  m  inva^loflf,  if  sfieb  shi>ii]d  be  at- 
ten^pted.  ^ 

Oen,  Striker  was  detached,  on  the  erenSng  of 
the  llth  September,  wi^h  a  portion  o^  liis  firi- 
*gade,  on  the  Npr th  -point-rpad.  BJIajor  Randaf, 
of  the  Baltimore  county  militp^,  having  under 
his  command,  a  ligVt  eorps  of  riflemen,';  and 
musketry,  taken  from  gen,  Stansbhry^s  brigade, 
and ^he  Pennsylvania  volunteers*  was  detached 
to  the  mouth  of  Bear^creek,  with  orders  to  co- 
operate with  gen.  Striker,  and  \o  check  any 
landing  which  the  enemy  might  attempt  in  that 

^^warter. 

'  OnMondayrthel2th,  the  enemy  landed . ^c- 
jti^^e^  8^pO  and  9000  nien,  at  filorth-ppint,  1* 
'jiiifes  from  Baltimore,  t^^^^^  land  force  un)dfer  com- 
^jmi^ftf  gen/liQss-r-^he  s^am.en  und^r  A^miipai 

*  T  i 


ftsz 


mSTOBT  OF  TBE  WJO^ 


Cookikirn;    Gen.  Striker  had,  that  momiitgv 
taki^n  ji  good  ponition  at  the  junetion  of  the 
voad'Sy  leading  from  Baltimore  to  the  North- 
point,,  having  his  right  flanked  by  Bear-creek^ 
and  his  left  hy  a  marsh.     Here  he  ifvaited  the 
approach  of  the  enemy,  having  sent  on  an  ad- 
Tanoe  corps>  under  the  command  of  maj.  Heath, 
of  the  5th  regiment.     «  This  advanee,"  says 
gen.  Smithy,  in  his  report^  «  met  the  enemy,  and 
after  some  skirmishing,  it  returned  to  the  tine, 
the  main  body  of  the  enemy  being  at  a  short 
distance  in  the  rear  of  their  advance..    Between 
2  and  3  o'clock,  the  enemy's  whole  fbree  came 
up  and  commenced  the  battle,  by  some  disehar* 
l^s  of  rockets,  whieh  were  succeeded  by  the 
•annon  from  both  sides,  and.  soon  aft^r  the  ac- 
tion became  general  along  thellne.   Gen.  Strike 
er  gallantly  maFntained  his  ground  against  a 
great  superiority  of  numbers  during  the  space 
of  an  hour  and  -  twenty  minutes,  when  the  regi^ 
ment  on :  his  left  ([the  51st)  ^i viiig;  '^^y  *-  he  was 
under  the  neeessity  of  retiring  to  the  ground'  iii 
his  rear^  where  he  had  stationed'  one  reeiinent 
as  a  reserve..    He  here  ftwmed  his-  brigade :  bt^: 
the  enemy  net  thinking-  inadvisable  to  pursue* 
hcfin  complianoo  with  arrangements,  feM  back 
and  took  post  on  the  Mt  of  my  entrenefament95< 
and  a  half  mili)  in  advance  of  them."^ 

The  foHowing  extracts^  fVH>m  gen.,  Smith'^ 
report,  will  best  explain  the  further  movementa 
of  the  respeetive  armies* 

(( About  the  time  g;en.  Strieker  had  taken  the 
ground  just  mentioned,  he  was  ioined  by  brig.  |ren. 
'Winder,  who  had  been  stationed  on  the  west  side  of 
the  city,  but  was  now  ordered  to  march  with  gen. 
Douglas's  brignde  of  Virginia  militia,  and  the  U.  S. 
dragoons,  undef  capt.  Bird,  and  tiJiof  ott  on  the  i$ft 


BISTOKT  OV  THE  WAV^ 


•f  g;en.  Striker.  During^  these  moyementsV  the 
brigades  of  gen.  Stansburf  and  Foreman,  the  tea* 
men  and  marines  under  com.  RodgerS)  the  Peniv- 
sylvania  Tolontetrtt  under  cols.  Cobeas  and  FindlejTy 
the  Baltimore  artillery  under  col.  l^arris,  and  the 
maritime  artillery  under  capt.  Stiles,  manned  the 
trenches  and  the  batteries^ — all  prepared  to  receive 
the  enem^.  We  remained  in  this  situation  during 
the  night. 

'*  On  Tuesday)  the  enemy  appeared  in  front  of 
my  entrenchments,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles,  on 
the  Philadelphia  road,  from  whence  he  had  a  full 
TieW  of  our  position.     He  manoeuvred  during  the 
morning  towards  our  left,  as  if  with  the  intention 
of  making  a  circuitous  march^  and  coming  down^n 
the  Harford  or  Tork  roads.      Gens.  Winder  and 
Striker    were  ordered  to  adapt  their  movements  to^ 
those  of  the  enemy,  so  as  to  baffl.e  this  supposed  in- 
tention.    They  executed  this  order  with  great  skill; 
and  judgment^   by  taking  an  advantageous  position^, 
stretching  from  my  left  across  the  country,  when  the 
enemy  was  likely  to  approach  the  quarter  he  seem- 
ed to  threatenw^^   This  movement  induced  the  ene-^ 
my  to  concentrate  his  forces  (between  one  and  two 
o'clock)  in  my  front,  pushing  his  advance  to  within 
a  mile  of  us,  driving  in  our  videttes,  and  shewing 
an  intention  of  attacking  us  that  evening.     I  imme» 
diat^'ly  drew  gens.  Winder    and  Striker  nearer  ta 
the  Hk  of  my  entrenchments  and  to  the  right  of  the 
enemy^,  with  the   ii>tention  of  their  felling  on  hiS' 
Tight  or  rear,  should,  he  attack  me ;  or,  if  he  deolin« 
ed  it,  of  jptttaeking   him  in  the  morning..     To^  this* 
movement  and  to  (he  strength  of  my  defence,  which 
the  enemy  had  the  fairest  opportunity  of  observing, 
I  am  induced  to  attribute  bis  retreat,  which  was 
commenced  at  half  past  one  o'clock  on  Wednesday 
morning.     In  this  he  was  so  favored  by  the  ex^eme 

Jl|r  darkness,  and  a  continued  rain,  that  we  did  not.dit* 

*^J^.  cover  it  until  diay-light." 
^^  I*  I  haT«  now  the  p|<esisttre  o£  calling  your  atteii; 


il^% 


UISTOIIT  OV  THE  V4«« 


,tion  fo  the  brave  commander  of  Fort  IVI<Henrf  *  tnaj, 
Armistead,  and  to  the  operations  confined  to  that 
quarter.  Tho  enemy  made  his  approach  by  water 
at  the  same  time  that  his  army  was  advancing  oi» 
the  land,  and  commenced  a  discharge  of  bombs  and 
rockets  at  the  fort*  as  soon  as  he  got  withihi  range 
of  it.  The  situation  of  maior  Armistead  was  pecu- 
liarly trying— >the  enemy»  having  taken  his  position 
such  a  distance  as  to  render  offensive  operations  o^ 
the  part  of  the  fort  entirely  fruitless,  whilst  their 
bombs  und  rockets  were  every  moment  falling  in 
and  about  it— theofiicers  and  men,  at  the  same  tiiney 
.entirely  exposed.  The  vessels,  however,  had  the 
temerity  ta  approach  somewhat  nearer— they  Were 
,ft8  soon  compelled  to  withdraw.  Ot?ring  the  nighty 
l^llst  the  enemy  on  land  was  reti^eating,  and  whilst 
,the  boml^rdment  was  most  severe,  twf>  or  three 
roeket  vessels  and  barges,  succeeded  in  gettiiig  up 
tthe  Ferry  Branch,  but  they  were  soon  compelled  to 
vetire,  by  the  forts  in  that  quarter,  commanded  by 
;lleut.  Newcomb,  of  the  navy,  and  lieut.  Webster  of 
the  flotilla.  These  forts^also  destroyed  one  of  the 
barges,  with  all  on  board.  The  bat^ges  and  battery 
at  the  Laasarettn,  under  the  command  of  liem  Rutte  '- 
,of  the  flotilla,  kept  up  a  brisk,  and  it  is  believed,  a 
.  successful  fire  daring  the  hottest  period  of  the  boiifi- 
,bardment»*^ 

It  was  impossible  for  yejlevany  or^be  most  ex- 
perienced iroopsy  to  act  with  inore  firiii  disci- 
rplmer.ei*  cool  eourage,  than  the  eiti%etis  of  Bal- 
■tiniore,  and.  the  troops  engaged,  did  on  this  go- 
.•asion,  with  the  exception  alr^dj  nq^iitioned. 
sA  pursuit  •€  the  enemy  wiis  atfempteil,  with- 
..out,  however,  ^oing  him  mueh  injury.      The 
troop»  were  so  exhausted,  with  three  day's  and 
viiight's  fatigue,  that  they  equld  do^  little  more* 
iban  pick  u\t  a  few  stragglers*      A  line  of  de- 
fences thrown  up  by  the  Americans  freim^  Back 
JBiver  to  ^tiiDpb^es*  f reek»  9!^  tke  P^taj^secs^ 


lUtTOBT  OT  TBI  WAB. 


fSiB 


were  used  by  the  enemy  to  proteet  Iiii  embark- 
ation. 

^  As  a  measure  neeessary  to  the  taking  of  Bal- 
timoroi  admiral  Cocliburn  sentf  what  he  relied 
on  as  a  competent  force  to  take  Fort  M*IIenryf 
situated  on  a  point  of  land  about  ti»o  miles  Arom 
the  city.  The  enemy's  vessels  were  ranged  on 
the  isthy  at  a  respectable  distance,  in  front  o€ 
the  works.  At  an  early  hour,  on  the  i2ih,  six 
bomb  and  some  rocket  vessels,  commenced  the 
attack;  but  at  such  a  distance  as  to  have  little 
effect.  A  vast  many  very  heavy  bombs  and 
rockets  ^ere  thrown  from  the  shipping*  and  an- 
swered ijfo  forma  from  the  fort,  the  Lazaretto, 
battery,  and  barges.  This  noisy  ptay  lasted  un-' 
til  near  3  P.  M.  when  the  enemy  dropped  near- 
er  the  battery.  The  firing  now  became  more 
frequent,  and  soon  became  tremendous,  but  the 
enemy  finding  that  the  uien  in  the  fort  could 
hit  as  well  as  fire,  soon  slipped  their  cables  and 
drew  off  to  their  former  distance  from  which 
they  continued  the  bombardment.        *~ 

Favored  by  a  dark  night,  one  or  two  of  the 
enemy's  bomb  vessels,  and  several  burgen,  with 
1^00  chosen  men,  passed  the  fort  at  abont  one 
o'clock,  in  the  morning  of  the  t4th,  and  pro- 
eeeded  up  the  Fatapsco,  to  attack  the  town  in 
the  rear,  and  probably  with  a  view  to  effect  a 
landing.  From  their  new  station,  they  com- 
menced a  very  warm  throwing  of  bombs  and 
rockets,  but  were  re-pa^d  with  such  rigour  and 
efiect,  tlisit  the  screams  of  their  wounded  could 
be  heard  in  the  midst  of  a  roar  of  arms,  that 
made  the  houses  in  the  eity  shake,  for  nearly 
an  hour  and  a  half.  About  3  o*e1ock  the  ene- 
my retired,  much  crippled,  to  his  former  re- 
speetful  distanee,  when  he  again  eommenoed 


msTOBT  OT  THE  VTJJU 


the  bombavdmenty  and  continued  it  until  day- 
light, when  he  iinally  withdrew.  The  entire 
duration  of  th^  bombardment  was  little  short  of 
SA  hours.  The  loss  of  the  enemy*  on  board  his 
Y,essels»  cannot  be  ascertained,  but  was,  undoubt- 
edly great ;  that  in  Port  M«Henry  was  aston- 
isbingly  small,  consisting  of  4  killed  and  abput 
9&  wounded.  Major  Armistead  commanded  the 
fort.  A  party  of  com.  Rodgers'  crew  was  post- 
cmI  at  FiM*t  Covington  |  Barney's  flotilla  IQC9 
were  stationed  at  the  city-battery. 

The  enemy's  retreat  was  attended  with  mor- 
tification and  disappointment.  Gen.  ^oss,  the 
destroyer  of  Washington,  was  killed ;  andj 
a$  |least»  aoo  men  killed,  wounded  ori|ii9$ing.^rr 
The  entire  American  loss  did  not  exceed  20 
killed,  90  wounded,  and  47  missing. 

The  enemy  was  at  Chaptico,  in  October.  Th^ 
jfollowing  particulars  of. the  excesses  coinmitted 
at  that  place,  appeared  in  tbe  Alexandria  Her- 
ald, signed  Robert  Wrigbt : 

«  I  passed  through  Chaptico  sbprtly  after  the  en* 
tmy  left  it,  ^d  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  th^ir  conduct 
frpuJld  have  disgraced  Cannibalf  ;  the  houses  yfcre 
torn  to  pieces^  Uie  wrll,  whicH  afibrded  ^ater  for 
l|he  inhabitants,  was  filled  up,  and,  what  is  still 
yorse,  the  church  and  the  ashes  of  the  dead,  shar- 
ed equally  bad  or  worse  fate.  "Will  you  believe  met 
when  I  tell  you,  that  the  sunken  graves  were  con- 
Terted  into  barbacue  holes  1 1 1  The  remaining  glass 
pfthc  church  windows  broken,  the  communion  ta- 
ble u.^ed  as  a  ditiner  table,  and  then  broken  to  pie- 
ees  I  Bad  as  the  above  may  appear,  it  dwindles  in- 
to insignificance,  when  compared  with  what  follows ; 
the  V9ult  was  entered,  and  the  remains  of  the  dead 
distv.rbed.  Yes,  my  friend,  the  wi'iding  sheet  was 
t<:in  from  the  body  of  a  la<iy  of  the  fir^t  respfictabili* 
ty,  and  the  whol9  content^  of  the  vault  entirely  ^ 
rw)gedi;j"  ^ 


UISTOBT  01*  THE  WAB. 


327 


Soon  after  leaving  Chaptico^  the  enemy  visit- 
ed Si.  inigocs,  in  St.  Mary's  eounty,  Maryland. 
This  was  the  habitation  of  a  missionary,  and 
the  scite  of  a  Roman  Catholic  church.  Nothing 
could  be  expected  but  tlie  furniture  of  the  priest 
and  plate  of  the  church.  Bo(h  iivere  talcen  ; 
feather- beds,  sheets,  blankets,  curtains,  spoons, 
knives,  forks,  &c.  were  taken  away  or  destroy- 
ed ;  the  sacred  vestments  were  thrown  about, 
the  vessels,  consecrated  to  the  service  of  God, 
prophaned,  the  altar  stript  naked,  the  tabe^*- 
hacle  carried  off,  and  the  blessed  sacrament 
borne  away  in  the  hands  of  those  sacrilegious 
wretches.  Some  few  articles  were  restored  at 
the  instance  of  the  British  officer,  who  would 

grobably,  wifcb  to  sec  the  entire  restored,  but 
e  could  not  'command  them  ;  '*  ihey  are,''  said 
he,  «  a  set  of  ruffians."  Some  other  articles, 
belonging  to  the  church,  were  restored  in  a  few 
days  afterwards. 

The  following  circumstance  proves  uow  dear- 
ly the  enemy  gains  a  victory,  when  op|)osed  by 
a  force,  however  small. 

On  the  evening  of  the  5th  Novetnber,  capt. 
Gordon,  naval  commander  at  ^||rfolk,  despatch- 
ed^ tenders  and  4  boats,  off  Black  rller,  for  the 
flmose  of  convoying  several  craft,  then  lying 
iSnlpit  river,  and  bound  to  Norfolk.  The  Ves- 
sels were,  unfortunately,  separated,  during  the 
liight ;  the  boats,  o>viiig  to  a  rough  sea,  return- 
ed to  Norfolk.  The  two  ttoders,  Franklin  and 
Despatch,  were  separated  ft*om  each  other. 

The  ooYnmunder  of  the  D  dJ^patoh,  finding,  io 
the  morning,  that  he  had  drifted,  ia  a  oalm» 
nedr  the  enemy's  ships  in  Lynnhaven,  and  that 
they  were  manning  their  boats,  to  attack  him^ 
^ade  signal  to  the  FrankliB^  and  the  boats  Jy- 


238 


ttlSTOET  07  V'BE  irA#^ 


'^ 


ing  un^dF  OM  point.  The  boats  joined  the 
Bespateh  $  ami  the  eneno'^s  boats^  after  ex- 
^haoging  afew  shots^  and  a  breeze  haying 
sprung  tip»  i^ftve  over  the  ehase^  and  directed 
their  attention  to  the  Frankiin,  that  lay  nearly 
bfcalmed  up  Uie  baj«  The  enemy  eame  up 
with  the  Frankliut  about  10  A*  M.  yirhen  the 
firing  eoinmenced.  Ilui^iiig^one  hour  and  aihalf 
the  Franklin's  crew  consisting  of  Mr.  Ham- 
inersley»  master's  mate»  who. commanded  ;  one 
midshipman  (iM[r.  Cook) ;  two  master's  mates 
and  pilots,  and  31  men,  maintained  a  galla&tde* 
fence  against  a  tender  and  14  barges,  and  boats 
of  the  enemy,  The  tender  and  two  heavy 
launches,  made  several  attempts  to  board,  but 
ikrere  as  often  beatcin  off.  At  length,  at  half 
past  11,  the  Franklin  was  carried,  being  board- 
ed at  Ihe  same  moment  by  the  crews  Cf  5  heavy 
boats. 

The  peace  in  Europe  having  relievM  the 
shifisand  seamen 'jf  England  from  any  other 
engagement,  excei^it  the  war  against  the  United 
States,  it  was  supposed,  that  an  American  ship 
would  nol^dare  longer  to  venture  on  the  ooeao> 
6r  sail  on4he  lakes.  ,  Every  American  port  was 
to  be  b1o<^iide#  every  sea-pert  town  to  be  burn- 
ed or  dealrdyed  ;  the  frames  of  frigates  jmp 
to  be  transported  fV*om  Eneland,  and  squP^ 
put  together,  and  launched  on  the  lakes.  m?he 
Yiolent  threats  Were  heard,  the  expected  legions 
looked  for,  with  a  eoolness,  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans,  which  evinced  courage ;  but  with  a 
^preparation  that  evinced  a  determination  to 
defend  their  homes,  their  fomilies,  their  coun* 
try,  and  liberty.  . 

Two  armed  launches  and  fonr  barges  pf  tbe 
enemy  carrying  about  220  inen>  entfsred  Cnpnet- 


UISTORT   OF  TIIR  WAIU 


220 


tieut  river,  lo  the  evening  of  the  7lh  Aptil,  and 
arrived  at  Pettipaiig- point,  about  4  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  8th.  It  was  quite  a  surprise 
on  the  few  inhabitants,  who  had  no  means  of 
resistanf^.  Tfaej  immediately  landed  and  burn- 
ed all  the  vessels  at  the  wharves,  and  on  the 
stocks,  except  a  brig,  a  schooner,  and  2  sloops, 
which  they  carried  down  the  river,  oq  iht?*^  p^-^ 
tiring,  after  10  o'clock  ;  but  the  wind  shiftiti^^ 
they  burned  all  exfi^]^t  the  schooner,  and  not  be- 
ing able  to  proceed,  they  op^me  to  anchor  a  short 
distance  below  Pettipaug,  where  they  lay  until 
iright,  then  burned  the  schooner,  and  departed^ 
without  interruption,  or  any  attempt  to  annoy 
them,  exeept  that  a  few  guns  were  iit'ed  on 
them  after  they  had  passed  the  mouth  of  the 
liver,  to  which  iJicy  returned  three  cheers,  and 
passed  off. 

During  the  Sth,  the  militia  collected  to  tho' 
number  of  about  ±Q§Of  with  6  field  pieces  ;  an 
officer^  with  l.'iO  «ail^sand  soldiers,  from  K^ew- 
London,  had  also  arrived.  Gen.  Williams,  un- 
der authority  of  the  state  of  Connecticut,^  as- 
sumed the  command.  jVothmg  seeiitted  more 
ea^y  than  to  capture  the  enemy^  yet  jio  attempt 
was  made  to  do  so,  unless  a  summons  to  surren- 
der «an  be  so  considered.  Much  censur?  was 
then  at/tribut.^d  to  the  general  for  his  dilatory 
eoaduet,  and  U  seems  not  to  have  been  hitherto 
accounted  for.    About  26  vessels  Were  dlstroy- 

fc'd,  many  of  them  large  and  valtialile. 

Com.  Ifardy,  of  the  Ramilres  74i9-'ai'd)*csted  a 
letter  in  May,  to  the  British  agent  fc/k*  prison- 
ers Of  war  in  Boston,  stating  that  Ite  had  arriv- 
chI  in  th«  bay,  with  an  adequate  force  to  carry 
the  blcMekade  into  eifeot,  and  requesting  him  to 
malstit  known  t^  the  neutral  consuls  aitd  ageiits 


%B9 


HISTOBT  OF  TBE  "WAR. 


'  '-1* 


in  thaf  town  and  state,  that  the  blockade  woold 
be  rigorously  enforced^  agreeably  to  the  procla- 
mation for  the  same. 

The  following  copy  of  a  letter  from  commo- 
dore Lewis,  commantUng  the  United  States'  flo- 
tilla at  New- York,  to  t:ie  secretary  of  the  navy, 
d^ted  May  29, 18i4,  will  show  that  the  Yankees 
dlti^niined  to  have  some  trade,  notwithstanding 
^e  mighty  force  of  the  enemy  on  the  ocean.     . 

«  &r^^I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you>  that  on 
the  I9th  I  discovered  the  enemy  in  pursuit  of  a  brig; 
under  American  colors,  standing  for  Sandy-Hook^ 

^I-ord€f  ed  a  detachment  of  1 1  gun-boats  to  proceed 
to  sea*  and  pass  between  the  chase  and  the  enemy, 
by  which  means  to  bring  him  to  action,  and  give  op- 
portunity to  the  chase  to  escape,  all  which  was  ef- 
fected; the  enemy,  after  receiving  ^  my  fire,  bore  a- 
way-— and  the  brig  in  question  entercct  the  harbor, 
proved  to  be  the  brig  Regent  from  France,. vvith  a 
very  valuable  cargo.  And  on  Monday  the  S 3d,  I 
engaged  the  enemy  before  N(|w-London,  and  open- 
ed a  passage  for  10  sail  of  coasting  vessels  ;  tVie  ac- 
t^  lasted  3  hours,   in  which  the   flotilla  suffered 

:.Ji?ery  little  j^^No.  6  received  a  shot  under  water,  and 
Others  thrdngh  the  soils— we  have  reason  to  believe 
that  the  enemy  suffered  very  great  injury,  as  he  ap- 
peared unwilling  to  renew,  the  action  the  following 
morning  ;  my  object  was  accomplished,  Wi'iich  was 
to  force  a  passage  for  the  convoy.  There  are  be- 
fore New-London  3  seventy-four's,  4  frigates,  and 
severaL^mall  vessels,  the  latter  doing  great  injury, 
from  their  disguised  character  and  superior  sailing. 
I  haye  the  honor  to  assure  you  of  mv  high  re'pect, 

J.  LEWIS." 

As  ^oon  as  the  engagement  ceased,  the  floHl- 
la  came  to  anchor  before  the  harbor  of  New- 
London,  within  gun-shot  of  the  enemy,  with  a 
yiew  of  reiifwiug  the  action  in  the  inori~ 


HISTOBT  UV  THE  VAB. 


sai 


ivlieti  \re  fauiid  that  the  enemy  had  collected 
all  his  force,  in  number  7  ships  and  several  small 
vessels,  in  consequence  of  which  great  accession 
^f  force,  the  project  of  renewing  the  action  waft 
*  almndoned,  and  signal  was  made  to  proceed  op 
Sound,  whither  the  enemy  pursued  as  far  as 
Faulkner's  Island.  rr' 

:  Capt.  Sawyer,  of  the  Smack  Re8olution#i^|n 
Stoniugton,  informed,  that,  in  the  gun-boat  halt- 
tie,  one  shot  passed  through  the  mainsail  of  the 
Sylph,  and  another  cut  away  her  ensign  ;  tliift 
one  shot  passed  through  the  how  of  the  Maid- 
stone, one  through  her  foremast,  and  one  into 
her  hnll ;  and  that  on  the  dliy  kfter  the  engage- 
ment, a  number  of  men  from  these  vessels  were 
buried  on  Fis|ier*s  Island. 

A' British  sqiiadron,  consisting  of  a  74  gun- 
ship,  several  frigates,  and  smaller  vessels,  with 
numerous  launches,  spread  terror  along  the 
coast  of  Massachus|itts,  and  succeeded  in  doing 
oonsifierable  inj ury  to  coasting;  vessels.  About 
200  men  landed,'  on  the  13th  May,  at  Wareham* 
in  Massachusetts,  and  burned  12,  or  13  vessels* 
vf^^ed  at  about  20.000  dollars.  They  also  sat 
fire  to  a  stocking  factory,  which  was  extinguish- 
ed by  the  oitiliens»  before  mueh  injury  was 
done. 

Capt.  Allen,  of  the  schooner  William  &  John^ 
of  Sedgwick,  Maine,  was  bound  to  Boston  with 
a  cargo  of  lumber.  Capt.  A.  7»/iit  into  Dyers- 
ereek,  on  the  20th  May,  but  finding  himself 
ehascd^  by  the  barge  of  the  British  schooner 
Bream,  he  hailed  the  barge,  when  she  reached 
wjthin  about  50  yards,  but  received  no  answer* 
Capt.  Allen  then  ordered  the  barge  to  «  keep 
4^.'*  The  captain,  discovering  the  men  in  the 
Imrge  about  to  firo  a  swivel  in  her  how»  ordere<!i 


332 


HISTORY   OF  THE    WAR. 


his  men  to  fire>  and  i9ikegood  aim.  Four  shots 
were  itred  in  succession,  and  tlie  captain  liad  ta- 
ken his  aim,  when  one  of  the  enein>'  cried  out, 
**,ru  give  up  to  you ;"  and  the  barjsje  was  in^ 
stantly  suriH^ndered  to  capt.  Allen.  Of  7  incn|^ 
who  were  in  the  barge,  2  were  killed,  and  £ 
wounded. 

jA^Yer  the  capture  of  the  barge,  the  British 
«biifmodoi*c  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  capt.  AlleB^ 

fitft^pi'opositions,  winch  were  rejected.  Aftek*, 
owever,  the  excliange  of  four  flag^,  it  was  'a- 
greed,  that  in  consideration  of  capt.  Allen -s 
giving  up  the  British  prisoners  on  parole,  the 
oommander  of  the  &reani  was  to  gi-ye  capt.  AU 
len  S90  in  cash,  return  two  American,  pri- 
sonejrs  belonging  to  Goldsborough,  give  up  a 
Chebaceo  boat,  with  the  property  on  board  of 
ker,  valued  at  SS700>  and  capt.  Allen  to  retain 
the  t^-oare<l  barge,  with  all  her  armament, 
consisting  of  one  swivel,  6  ^uskets,  dcUtlasses^ 
6  aartridge-boxes,  some  blue  lights,  a  compass, 
one  trumpet,  and  ,a  quantity  of  canister  and 
grape  sl|ot>  all  of  which,  captain  Allen  values  at. 
B300.  ^ 

Soon  after  this  transaction,  a  boat  captured 
by  the  Bream  schooner,  was  sent  into  Mount- 
Desert,  with  7  Englishmen  on  board,  to  cut  out 
m  vessel,  the  crew  of  which,  on  their  approach^ 
fled  to  the  shore|  and  were  joined  by  several  of 
the  inhabitants,  armed — having  coneealcd  them- 
selvp. among  the  rocks  or  bushes,  they  opened 
a  ftre  on  the  enemy,  killed  three  of  them,  wound- 
ed two,  and  compelled  the  others  to  surrender. 

The  «inemy  entered  the  harbor  of  ScituaiOf 
(Mass.)  in  June,  in  consequence,  as  ho  stated, 
of  having  been   fire^l  at  from  a  signal  piece  of 
Gannon,  near  the  light-house^  and  sat  fire  to  s^fi 
veral  vessels. 


HTSTOBT  OV  THS  Wlft« 


ds^ji: 


Two  bftrgefi,  ft'om  the  Bvi(  isli  frigate  X^^mphCf 
went  luto  S<|,ij{im,  and  tlestroyed  the  sehooncr 
Biligeneet  laden  with  lime*  llie  crews  throaf- 
ened,  that  if  the  eaptain  attempted  t»  extinguish 
tfkt  flames  aP  tlie  Uiligencey  they  would  destf||y 
the  house  on  the  point ;  .whioh  being  attempted^ 
they  Hived  a  12  pound  shot  through  it,  and  re** 
turned  and  effboted  the  destruction  of  the  sloop; 

On  the  Ifth  t^uly^  Eastport  was  tat^en  pos- 
•ession  of  5.v  the  enemyy  in  the  name  of^liiv 
Britannic  majesty^  and,  as  afterward  appeari^d^ 
was  claimed  as  being  part  of  the  Bntish  terri- 
tory, by  the  ternis  of  the  treaty  ol*  17S5.  Tlie 
British|foroe  consisted  of  2000  men.  The  Ameri- 
ean  garrison  of  69  men,  including  ii  sick,  wad 
commanded  by  major  Futnam.  The  inhabit, 
ants  were  offered  the  allertiative  to  take  an  oatK 
of  allegiance  to  the  king,  or  to  depart  withih  f 
days.  A  great  pi^portion,  perhaps  moreihaii' 
two-thirds,  took  the  oath.  This- place  remain- 
ed in  the  enemy's  possession-  to  the  end  of  t.h,&>^' 
war  ;  and,  as  wifl  appear  by  reference  to  the' 
treaty  of  peace,  was  to  continue  in  |)0»session  of 
the  British,  until  (he  dispute  relative  to  terrifo- 
ry  could  be  settted  by  ooiumUsioners,  to  be  ap-r 
pointed  for  that  purpose. 

F^astport  ii  onr  an  isliuid,  called  >foo.se,  on  the' 
w«8t  side  of  Passamaquuddybay  :  the^i^land  is' 
about  five  miles  fong*  tind  one  ipiie  broad^  con-^ 
taining  about  1000  in  habitants* 

On  the  9th  August,  at  &  P.  M,  the  Ratnilies 
7Vr  Pactolus  38,  a  bomb^sbip^  anda  heavy  brigr 
arrived  otrstonihgton  ;;  and  a  flag  was  sent  on< 
shore,  with  a-  note,  of  whioh  the  foliowJng  is  a^ 

'     <*  To  the  Mdj;iistrate8  <jf  Slonin^ton, 

#•  Gentiemen-TOne  houv  ui  allowed  you>  from- 


231« 


HISTOHY  OF  THE  >VAK. 


W- 


the  receipt  of  tliis  communication,  for  the  re;* 
moval  of  the  unoffending  inhabitants. 

THOMAS  M.  HARDY." 
^toningtonvas  in  no  state  of  defence  adequate 
tV.resist  the  enemy.  The  few  men  in  the  place 
hastened  to  collect  ammunition^  some  ran  to  the 
battery,  ivhich  consisted  of  two  18  pounders,  and 
a  4  pounder,  with  a  slight  breastwork;  ex- 
pr<iiBes  were  sent  to  New-London  and  other  pla- 
ces. At  S  o'clock,  the  attack  was  commenceff^ 
by  a  discharge  of  shells,  from  the  bomb-ship, 
and  congreve  rockets  from  several  barees,  Tliis 
fire  was  continued  until  mi^ight,  without  in- 
juring a  single  building  or  inhabitant. 
'  During  the  night,  the  volunteers  and  militia 
had .  assembled  in  considerable  numbers,  and 
were  'lisposi^ll  of  in  the  manner  best  ealeulated 
to  resist  any  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  land.  At 
llawn  of  day,  the  enemy  begiHt  to  throw  rockets 
ftrom  vessels  whi<)h  had  taken  stations  on  the 
ieast  side  of  the  towii,,out  of  range  of  the  batte- 
ry. An  18  and  #4'  pounder  were  di^wn  to  a 
point  of  land  ft*om  which  the  enemy  could  be 
reached,  and,  in  a  few  minutes^  the  barges  ^re 
ttompelled  to  move  off.  During  this  ti^e,  the 
brig  worked  up  and  came  to  anchorifithin  less 
than  half  a  mile  of  the  battery.  The  ammuni- 
tion on  shore^  being  expended>  the  few  men,  who 
ivere  at  the  battery,  were  compelled  to  retire^ 
having  first  spiked  the  guns. 

iPor  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  enemy  continued 
foiire  on  the  towtty  without  the  least  opposition 
beiii|;  attempted  or  praeticable.  A  fresh  8ii|>- 
ply  of  atanmunitioh  being,  by  this  time  obtainM^ 
the  vent  of  the  18poun&r  ^vas  drilled^  whem;a 
iire  was  opened  on  the  enemy's  brig,  until  at  3 
b'ciook^  sh«  slipped  hor  table^  and  haal^d  9lt, 


m- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR, 


235r^ 


lieing  evidently  much  injured  in  her  hull  and 
spars. 

Soon  after  this  time,  a  considerahle  hoi\y  of 
militia  arriv«d|  and  gen.  Isham  had  taken  the 
command. 

« 

A  flag  was  sent  from  the  inhabitants  (with- 
out ^he  coneurrenee  of  gen.  Isham)  to  the  Bri- 
tish, ofllcer,  informing  him  that  the  *•  unoffend- 
ing inhabitants"  had  been  removed,  and  .wish- 
ing ta  knowy  if  he  meant  to  complete  the  de- 
struction of  the  town.  The  deputation  reeeiT^ 
ed  from  eapt.  Hardjr  a  written  reply^  ^that^  the 
bombardment  should  cease^  in  ease  the  inhal^t- 
ants  would  engage  that  no  torpedoes  should  be 
fittcMl  out  ait  Stonington,  and  that  the  family  of 
IMr.  Stewart,  late  British  consul  at  New«£ion- 
don,  would  be  sent  on  board. 

Tliese  terms  could  not  be  complied  with.-— ^ 
The  proposal  respecting  torpedoes  was  considi- 
ered  degrading,  nothing  of  the  kind  having  everr 
been  atteuipted  at  Stonington  f  .the  second,  re^ 
specting  Mrs.  Stewart  andd^lldren»  was  refer- 
red to  the  proper  authority ».         ^        ^ 

The  en^roy  eontinued  to  negotiate,  tbr  the^ 
purpose  of  getting  Mrs.  Stewart  on  board,  untiL 
8  o^clook  on  the  lith*  when  the  bombardmeiit- 
again  commenced,    and  was   continued    untih 
night.    On  Friday  morning,  the  attack  wis 
eommeneedy  and  continued  with  great  warm  t  b» . 
ft  .11  nearly  all  tlie  enemy '6  ships  and  iaunchcsy 
until  near  noon^i  when  it  ceased^  and,  aboni  4b 
o'clock  P.  M.  the  enemy,  finding  that  igrjeatv 
fiarce  were  assembledr  for  the  protection  of  fho8> 
lown,  finally  ^khdrew  ;«nd»dn  Saturday  morn- 
ing, weighed. acchor^  and  proceeded  up  Fisher'»^ 
Aound^ 

]>iiri|ig  the  seTeral  attaoka^  not  a  inaii.w|»« 


ts^ 


1I1ST6ST  Of  THE  WlVl 


killed,  and  but  5  or  6  wounded.  Two  or  tlire# 
houses  were  destroyed,  8  or  io  mueb  damaged, 
and  about  40  partially  injured..  More  tbao  30a 
shells  and  eareasses  were  thrown  into  the  vil* 
lagp. 

The  additional  disposable  military  and  naval 
force,  which  the  peaee  in  Kurope  left  at  tho 
eon^mand  of  the  oneDiy*  the  nse  which  he  threat- 
ened to  make,  and  did  actually  coromenee,  ov 
prepare  to  make  of  it,  produced  an  union  ofac*> 
lion  and  sentiment  among  the  people  of  Ameri* 
«a,  some  discontented  or  rather  traitorous  per* 
to^  excepted,  and  these  so  eomparatively  few, 
that  they  excited  but  a  sentiment  of  contempt^ 
ana  owed  their  personal  safety  to  their  utter 
inability  to  do  material  iirjury.  The  citizens  oC 
New-York,  the  first  eommeroial  city  in  the  liiif 
Ion,  gave  an  example  of  polii^cal  ibrbearanco 
toward  eaeh  other,  and  of  attachiAent  to  theiv 
country,  which  bad  a  salutary  influence  on  evo>> 
xy  other  part  of  the  nation.. 

At  a  general  me«)ting.  held  in  the  Park  in  that 
eity,  the  ioth  August,  i$14,  the  following,  to- 
gether with  several  other  [mtriotic  resolutions^, 
wppc  unanimously  adopted : 
*^  Resolved,  that  the  citizens,  here  as^mbled)WiII^ 
to  the  last^xtremityrdeft^nd  their  city. 

'^Seeotved^thdi  we  will  unite  ourselves  in  acmar^ 
with  oiu-  bccthern.  of  the  coiuitG^,  and,  on  the  ficst 
approach  of  the  eneinyr)  make  it  a  common  cauMe. 

«  Reaatved',  that  it  be  recommend  to  the  citizens^ 
generally)  to  meet  a»  soon  as  may  be  praetica'1^ 
j  With  convenience,  in  their  respective  warrtft  forthep 
*  purpose  of  electing  discreet  and  luffibient  commit- 
ters to  promote  the  execution  of  ifc^  foUowing^^ 
Jects  I  ''^;[-  ■    _  '■^/ 

«*  I.  To  qpmplete  the  voluntary  enroUtoentof  per*- 
•ttsis^  exem]2ted.  by  law  from  niilitary  service* 


HI8TQBT  07  THE  WAS. 


^7 


«  3.  To  encourage  the  enrollment  of  sea-faring 
citizens,  for  service,  in  the  harbouri  or  as  artille- 
rists. 

<t3.  The  enrollment  of  citizens  for  voluntary  la- 
bour on  the  public  works. 

*\Iieaolvedi  that  we  will  endeavour  to  promote 
concord  and  harmony,  and  will  discountenance  all 
attempts  to  weaken  the  patriotic  efforts  of  good  cit- 
izens." 

.  From  this  moment^  party  feuds  were*  in  a 
great  measure,  suspended  ;  newspaper  ftditori 
excluded  all  aerimonious  political  discussions ; 
th^coDi  in fttee  appointed  to  carry  into  effect  the 
resolutions  of  the  general  meeting,  was  selqpt- 
«d  from  the  most  -respectable  of  the  citl^siMiq, 
"Without  the  least  respect  to  the  political  party 
to  which  the  persons  selected,  belonged. 

The  plan  of  the  enemy  was  to  dismember  the 
union.  A  ^Mnmand  4>f  the  North.  River  would 
tend  mucli  to  tbi»*eBd.  The  possession  of  Utit 
oky  of  New-York  was  a  desirable  otgecty  in 
whatever  point  k  might  l>e  .viewed*  1^  mea- 
sures of  ^fenoe  and  pree^nti^n,  :takea«t  New^ 
York,  probably  prevented  the  intended  attaek 
on  <hat  city  ;  tf^  snlisequent  attempt  to  gain 
possession  of  the  posts  near  Lake  €liamplaitt> 
leaves  little  room  to  doubt  the  enemy's  inteii^ 
tion.  Had  that  invasion  succeeded,  we  should 
have  soon  heard  of  an  invasion  on  the  sea-hoard« 
eitber  at  New- York,  op  some  place  to  the 
eastward  of  it,  and  an  attempt  to  form  a  junc- 
tion of  the  two  invading  armies. 
:  For  several  months,  the  citizens  of  New- York 
supplied  more  than  1000  men  daily,  who  lahfH*- 
ed,' voluntarily  and  without  pay,  at  the  fbrtlfi- 
4^atiohs  ;  and  several  thousands  from  ileadja^ 
oeni  counties^  and  from  the  state  of  Lew-Jer-. 
6ey>  contribijited  their  aid^  until  a  line  of  fortifi- 


998 


JBIITOHT  •!  THE  WAS. 


fPm     ^^ 


•Atlons  were  raised  on  the  heights  of  Brooklyti 
and  IIarlflBiii»  suffloicnt  to  oiipose  any  probable 
force  that  could  be  employea  by  the  «rnemy.— 
It  would  be  impossible  to  do  justice' to  the  zeal 
that  animated  the  cifizens>  and  it  cannot  be  ex- 
pected to  copy,  or  even  notice  the  many  edito- 
rial observations  which  appeared  in  the  publio 
prints  ;  zeal  overflowed,  so  that  it  became  ne- 
•essary  to  limit  the  offered  services  to  a  certain 
Bumlier  daily,  and  it  often  happened,  that'  ser- 
Tioes  could  not  be  received  until  several  days 
after  being  tendered.  The  following,  from  the 
JRichmond  Compilei*,  is  given,  because  its  short- 
niis  does  not  actually  render  its  insertion  i|i- 
*«bmpaHble  with  our  limits. 
•  *<  To  a  patriotic  mind^  it  is  truly  exhilerating,  to 
read  the  New-York  papers,  aiid  see  the  generoiiSy 
ardent  zeal  that  actuates  the  inhabitants  of  that  great 
emporium  of  American  commerce*;  At  the  first 
signal  of  breaking  ground  for  the  defence  of  the 
eity,  the  whole  population  seem  to  have  caught  the 
spark  of  patriotic  energyi  to  have  burst  the  shack- 
les of  apathy,  and  set  to  the  continent  an  example 
•f  social  and  public  spirit,  which  we  trust  may  be 
emulated  through  every  part  of  our  land.  By  wards 
and  sections  of  the  city,  by  tribea  und  centuriesy  by 
eonstituted  bodies  and  private  companies,  by  trades, 
by  professions,  and  by  domestic  parties,  offers  of 
personal  service  and  contributions  in  money,  have 
been  mad^  and  accepted:  and  that  great  mart  of 
•ommercial  wealth  ahd  enti'rprize,  on  which  the 
enemy  have  so  long  kept  a  tonging'  eye,  is  already 
inaccessible,  invulnerable  :  the  pride  and  glory, 
and  palladium  of  the  continent.  Who  would  not 
^  a  citizen  of  New-York  ^'^ 

On  the  1st  Beptemher,  the  British  entered 
the  Penoibsifot  rfver^  with  about  40  sail  of  ves- 
lelsy  and  several  thousand  meut  and  took  pq^ 


AlBTOKT  OV  THE  WAB 


jZ8d 


MBSion  of  Castine,  the  small  garrison  of  which 
flc(l«  after  bloM/ing  up  the  fort.  They  next  sent 
600  men  to  Belfast,  ¥rhich  submitted.  The 
following  day  they  proceeded  up  the  river  to 
Ilamden,  where  the  Adams  frigate  lay.  C*apt. 
Morris  made  every  possible  dinposition  to  resist 
the  cnemy»  but  finding  his  limited  force  inade- 
quate to  that '%nd,  he  spiked  his  guns,  burned 
hi^  stores,  blew  up  the  ship,  and,  with  his  crew» 
escaped.  The  British  governor  immediately 
announced,  that  the  country,  lying  between  the 
Penobscot  river  and  Passamaquoddy-bay,  would 
he  considered  as  a  part  of  ihe  British  territory. 
Measures  were  also  taken  to  fortify  Ca'Tine^ 
and  establish  permanent  commercial  regulations. 
It  was  estimated  that  120  vessels  were  taken  in 
the  Penobscot. 

While  tha  enemy  was*  coupling  petty  eon« 
quest  with  cowardice  and  cruelty,  along  the 
sea-board,  the  Anferican  army  of  the  interior 
was  plucking  froih  the  brows  of  imposed  iuvinci- 
bles  the  laurels  won  on  the  theatre,  of  late  Euro- 
pean conflicts. 

The  brave  general  Jacob  Brown,  wh6  had 
in  the  last  year  signalized  himself  by  th^  de- 
fence of  Saokett's  Harbor,  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  army  on  the  Niagara  frontier. 
On  the  2d  July,  general  Brown  made  dispo- 
sitions for  an  intended  attack  on  the  Brltisk 
fort-Erie;  and  issued  orders  to  the  troops  for 
orot^sing  the  river.  The  arniy  passed  the  Niar 
gara  river  on  the  morniiie  of  the  Sd.  The  en- 
emy was  perfectly  unappA*ised  of  the  Hiteoded  at- 
tack ;  gen.  Scott,  who  led  the  van,  was  on  shore 
before  the  enemy's  picket  discovered  the  ap  • 
proach.  uThe  tort  being  approached  on  the 
right  and  left^  and  the  Indians  in  the  woods^  in 


240 


ittSTOltY   OF  TttB   WlIS. 


r# 


the  rear,  grea.  Brqwn  siimmoneu  the  garrison  to- 
surrender,  which«aftei*a  short  time  allowed  for 
consideration,  WKS  agreril  to.  At  6  o'clock  the 
garrison  inarched  and  stacked  their  arms.  170 
regulars,  inc'uding  7  officers^  were  sent  across 
the  river. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th  July,  gen.  Seott» 
with  nin  brigade,  and  a  corps  of  tirtillerj^  ad- 
vanced toward  Chippawa.  ,  After  some  skir- 
inishing  with  the  enemy,  he  selected  a  judicious 
positijn^for  the  night ;  his  right  resting  o)  the 
rjvepi.  and  a  ravine  in  front ;  at  11  attiig|il,  ge- 
neral Brown  Joined  him  with  the  reserve  under 
gen.  Ripley,  and  a  corps  of  skrtillery,  under  n|a- 
jor  Hindman — a  field  and  battering  train  wisre 
also  brought  up  ;  gen.  Porter  arrived  in  the 
morning,  with  a  part  of  the  New- York  and  Penn- 
sylvpxnia  volunteers,  and  some  of^he  warriors 
of  the  Six  Nations.  '"^"' 

•  Early  in  the  morning  of  th«  5th,  the  enemy 
attacked  the  pickets  ;  by  noon'  he  showed  him- 
self on  the  left  of  the  army,  and  attacked  one 

of  the  pickets,  as  it  was  returning  to  camp. 

The  officer,!  comnih^iding  the  picket,  retired, 
leaving:  a  wounded  man  on  the  ground.  Capt. 
Biddle,  of  the  artillery,  promptly  assumed  the 
command.  * 

At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  gen.  Porter 

advanced  with  the  volunteers   and  Indians,   in 

order  to  induce  the  enemy  to  i^ome  forth.^—— 

^^i^n.  Porter's  command  met  the  i)ght  parties  of 

^ecuemy  in  the  woods.   The  enemy  was  driven, 

t  Captain  Treat. — General  Brown  iustantly  or- 
dered captain  Treat  to  retire  from  the  army,an«l  ad- 
visedy  that  his  name^  and  that  of  another  officer, 
fihould  be  struck  from  the  roll  oi  the  army. 


_  'WShtSi'W*  J 


SISTOBT  0V  THX  WAV. 


«^1 


and  Porter  pursued  until  near  Cliippawa,  ^here 
lie  met  ttieir  whole  eoIuinn>  in  order  of  battle. 
The  heavy  firing  induced  a  belief*  that  the  en- 
tire force  of  the  enemy  was  in  raotiony  and  pre- 
pared for  action.     Gen  Scott  was  ordered  to 
advance  with  hi^  brigade  and  Towson*^  artillei- 
ry.    The  general  advanced  in  tb6  ^ost  prompt 
and  officers-like  manner,  and,  in  a  few  minutes, 
was  in  dose  action  with  a  su|ierlor  force  of  the 
enemy.    By  this  lime,  gen.  Porter's  command 
bad  given  way,  and  fled  in  disorder,  notwith- 
«tandmg  the  great  exertions,  of  the  general  to 
rally  fliem.    This  retreat  left  ih^  left  flank  of 
gen.  Scott's  brigade  greasy  exposed.    Captain 
i^rris  was  directed  with  his  dragoons,  to  stop 
4ihe  fugitives,*  behind  the  ravine,  fronting  the' 
American  camp.      Gen.  Ripley,   with  the  21s^ 
regiment,  wh»**h  formed  part  of  the   reserve, 
passed  to  the  left  of  the  camp,  under  cove/  of 
the  wood,  to  relieve  gen.  Scott,  'by  falling  on 
the  enemy's  right  flank,  but,  before  the  21st 
eould  come  into  its  position,  the  line  command- 
ed by  gen.  Scott^  closed  with  the  enemy.    Maj. 
Jessup,  comm'^inding   the  left   flank  battalion> 
finding  himself  pressed  in  front  and  flank,  and 
his  men  falling  fast  around  him,-  ordered~hl8 
battalion  to  *'  suppttrt  armsund  advance  ;^^  the 
order  was  promptly  obeyed,  amidst  the  most 
deadly  and  destructive  fire.      Having  gaiaed  a 
better  positiofi,  he  pouliiljoff  1ttie%liemy  a  fire 
so  gaitlng  as  caused  them  i^reilre.     The  ene- 
my's entire  line  now  felt  bafii^Jiiird  oeatliiiBed  to 
retreat  lintil  at  the  sloping  gr^Md^  ijifl^ding 
toward  Chippawa,  when  they  bpeike»  Hod  fled  to 
their  works. 

Gen. 'Brown,  finding  the  piirsa||  of  the  troops 
oheokod%  the  batteries  of  the  eaomy,  ordered 


*et 


2^ 


niBTOBT  OX  TBB    WAB. 


up  bis  ordnance*  in  order  to  foroe  the  plac^* 
b^  a  direct  attack  $  but  was  induced,  hy  tbe  re- 
port of  Diaj.  Wood  and  eapt.  Austin,  who  re- 
oonnoitered  the  enemy's  works,  the  lateness  of 
the  hour,  and  the  advice  of  his  officers,  to  order 
the  forces  to  retire  to  camp.  The  American 
iroops,  on  no  dccasion,  behaved  with  more  gal- 
lantry, than  on  the  present.  The  British  regu- 
lars suffered  def.  ^  iV'om  a  numbe?  of  men  prm- 
oipally  volunteers  and  militia,  inferior  in  ^dvery 
thing  but  courage,  to  the  vanqliished  enemy ; 
and  the  gaDani  jlrown,  a  woodsman,  <f  ^oldier 
of  yesterday /If  put  at  defiance  the  milits^  tacr 
tics  of  the  experieno^d  maj.-gen.  Rialt. 
If  The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  letter,  written 
by  gen.  Brown,  on  the  field  of  battle,  dii^ected 
to  the  secretary  of  war. 

|<  Sir— Excuse  my  silence.  I  have  been  much 
engaged.  Fort  £rie  did  not)  as  I  assured  you  it 
Should  not,  detain  me  a  single  day.  At  11  o'clock 
on  the  night  of  the  4th,  I  ai'rived  at  this  place  ivith 
the  reserve.  General  Scott  having  taken  the  position 
about  noon,  with  the  van.  My  arrangements  for 
tu'i-ning  and  taking  in  the  rear  the  enemy's  position 
east  of  Chippawa  was  made,  when  Major  General 
Riall,  suspcQting  our  intention,  and  adhering  to  the 
rule,  that  it  is  better  to  give  than  to  receive  an  at- 
tack, came  from  behind  his  works  about  5  o'clock 
in  the  i^ftemoon  of  the  £ftb,  in  order  of  battle.  We 
did  not  baulk  him.  Before  6  o'clock  his  line  was 
broken  ai^d  his  forces  defeated,  leaving  on  the  field 
four  hundred  killed  and  wouhded.  He  was  closely 
pressed  and  would  have  been  utterly  ruined,  but  for 
the  proximity  of  his  works,whither  he  fied  fof  siielter. 
The  wounded  of  the  enemy,  and  those  of*  our  own 
army,  must  be  attended  to.  They  will  be  removed 
to  Buffalo.  This,  with  my  limited  means  for  trans- 
portatioD^  Willlike  a  day  or  two,  after  whlth  1  shall 


# 


BISTOBT  OF  THE  WAV: 


ftkS 


Mtance,  not  doubting  but  that  the  gallant  an4  ac- 
compiisheci  troops  I  lead  will  break  down  ail  oppo* 
sitioii  between  me  and  Lakt  Ontario,  whenyifmet 
by  the  fleet,  all  is  well— if  not,  under  the  favor  of 
heaven,  we  shall  behave  in  a  way  to  avoid  disgrace.'* 

The  battle  of  Bridg>vater,  fought  on  the  'ZSth 
July,  MfAB  bloody,  and  well  contested  on  botli 
sides.  The  enemy  was  composed  of  6Q00  men^ 
of  the  best  troops,  commanded  by  gen»  Ri^ll^ 
and  others,  the  best  British  officers.  It  19  du9 
to  them  to  record,  that  they  fought  well*  but 
ifiey  fought  against  freemen,  anf  were  defeat- 
ed. Opposed  to  the ;bi*avest  slaves  In  the  world» 
of  e^ual  force,  this  B^Uid^  army  would  have 
oOfiquered.  The  Americans  were  fewer In  numr 
ber  than  the  enemy  ^  thoy  were  meii^  most  of 
whom  had  yet  to  learn  military  tactics,  but  who 
had  «  couft^ri/,  now  staked  in  a  contest,  Wity^. 
the  preserit  battle  might  materially  effect^  <^^ 
in  its  consequence,  decide. 

On  the  25th,  gen.  Bi'own's  army  was  encanip- 
cd  r.boye  Chippawa,  near  the  battle-ground  of 
the  5th,  The  brigade  under  gen.  Scott,  mov« 
ed  past  Chippawa,  and  halted  itt  Bridgwater^ 
in  view  of  Niagara  falls.  At  half  past  4,  P.M. 
the  battle  was  commenced  bj  the  enemy.  Thp 
enemy,  being  numerically  superior  to  the  Ame- 
ricans, he  was  able  to  extend  his  lino  so  as  to 
attempt  to  flaiik.  In  order  to  counteract  the 
apparent  view  of  gen.  Hiaifl,  he  was  'fought  in 
detachmentfi — he  was  charged  in  column,  gen. 
Scott  being  at  the  head  of  his  troops  in  ^hnost 
every  chargj.  General  Scott  waintaiucd  his 
ground  for  more  than  an  hour,  before  the  re- 
serve, under  gen.  Ripley,  and  the  volunteerSf 
under  gen*  Porter,  were  brought  fully  into  a0|. 
tiOn^    The  ground  was  obstinately  eontesteai 


su 


H18T«&Y  €»V  THE   WAX. 


until  9  o^doek  ia  the  eyeniDg,  when  geii.  Brown 
4eeided  to  storm  a  battery,  which  the  enemy 
had  on  a  eommanding  eminence.  Col.  MiUep 
•onunanded  on  this  enterprize,  which  was  so  re* 
solutely  entered  on,  that  the  enemy,  unable  to 
withstand  the  charge,  retired  to  the  bottom  of 
the  hill,  and  abandoned  his  cannon,  llie  enemy 
now  gave  way,  and  was  pursued  some  distanee. 
The  .A^erioan  army  then  betook  itself  to  the 
securi^  of  prisoners,  and  bringing  off  th» 
wounded. 

While  the  army  was  thus  employed,  general 
i)riimmond  arrived  with  fl|^relnA>rcement  to  tht 
enemy,  when  he,  unoxpeOtedly  to  the  Ameri- 
^ns,  renewed  the  battle,  with  a  view  to  i*edo- 
verbis  cannon.  The  army,  having  quickly 
formed,  resisted  the  attack  with  courage ;  amC 
af(;er  a  close  engagement,  the  enemy  w^  re- 
puised,  as  he  was  In  two  other  similar^attempts. 
The  Anierican  army  having  effected  the  remo- 
val of  nearly  all  the  wounded,  retired  from  the 
ground  a  little  before  mMnight,  and  returned 
to  camp. 

The  warmth  and  zeal  with  which  this  action 
was  maintained,  was  the  most  obstinate  and  de- 
^rmined.  For  two  hours,  the  discharge  of 
itiUsketry  was  so  constant  as  to  produce  almost 
an  uninterrupted  blaze  of  lire  ;  nor  was  it  in  a- 
ny  period  of  the  action,  much  less  warm.  Wel- 
lington's «  invincibleiiP^  had  just  arrived  from 
:£urope,  and  Brummond  I'esolved  that  they 
should  not  only  maintain  their  character,  but 
maintain  it  in  a  manner  that  would  make  the 
Biost  desponding  impression  on  the  brave,  but 
raw,  recruits  of  the  republic.  The  Americans 
iiot  only  withstood  the  onset,  but  repelled  and 
punished  it.     A  fine  moon-light  night  £avored 


^«L.-. 


BISTairi    OT  THUS  WAB. 


i^B 


eqaally  the  operations  of  both  armies  ]  the^ 
fouglit  too  near  to  render  cannon  generally  ser-. 
Yieeable,  being  often  vrithin  half  pistol  shot  of 
each  other,  and  sometimes  mingled  together.-- 
The  charge  of  eoK  Miller  exceeded  any  things 
experienced  by  the  British  soldiers,  even  inEu« 
rope.  Thrice  his  men  were  repulsed  with  great 
slaughter.  For  a  tin^e  he  was  deserted  by  a 
regiment  of  infhntry  ;  they  were  rallfed  ;  a 
fourth  charge  was  made«  and  siicoeedcir;  The 
Americans  could  not  be  driven,  nor  withstood  f 
determined  not  to  be  overthrown,  even  by  supe- 
rior, numbers,  they  .seemed  resolved  to  crush 
trhatever  foe/ opposed  themt  Had  they  been 
eunqueredy  they  would  yeW describe  honors  'fum 
victors,  they  covered  themselves  with  glory.^<- 
They  lost  a  howitzer  ;  the  rider  being^^  shot  ofll> 
the  horses  carried  it  full  galfop  into  the  'ranks 
of  the  enemy ;  they  also  lost  a  piece  of  cannon, 
which  was  too  much  advanced,  ami  from  which, 
the  men,  except  two,  were  shot.  For  want  of 
horses,  they  were  compelled  to  leave  to  thj^  en- 
emy most  of  the  cannon  which  were  taken  &<^u 
him  with  such  liravery  and  at  such  expense; 

On^e  morning  after  the  battle,  the  Ameri- 
eans,  under  generals  Ripley  and  Porter,  reeon- 
noitered  the  enemy,  who  did  not  show  any  dis- 
position to  renew  the  contest,  and  then  burned 
the  enemy's  barracks  and  bridge  at  Chippaw{|> 
after  which  they  returned  to  Fort  Erie. 

The  enemy  was  believed  to  have  lost  between' 
12*00  and  1300  men^  including  maj^  gen.  Hiall, 
who  was  wounded,  and,  with  18  other  o^cers^ 
and  150  hon- commissioned  officers  and  privates, 
taken  prisoners.  Tiie  AmerieaoH  lost  1  major, 
*  adjutant,  b  captains, 4«  subalterns,  10  HPigjeants, 
Ifi  corporals^  140  privt^tes — total  kilied^  171 


iutf 


msTOBT  •V  THB  WiJt* 


i  mi^or* general,  1  bHgadier-|enera],  2  aids*de-* 
tamp,  1. biigadeniiyor,  1  colonel,  i  lieutenant* 
•oionel,'  4  nnigoi'Sy  1  adjutant^  3  quarter-ma*'* 
tors,  1  pay-master,  7  oaptains,  32  subatternsy 
917  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates-^to* 
tal  wounded,  572  ;  iniss'ng,  117. 

Oen.  Brown  received  two  wounds,  but  con«- 
tinued  to  command  until  the  action  ended.  The 
gener^  was  obliged,  by  the  severity  of  bis 
ivoundHto  retire  n'om  ih^  command,  which  de« 
Tolved  on  gen.  Ripley,  gen.  Hcott  being  also 
disabled,  by  a  wound,  from  continuing  in  com- 
mand. ;^ 

The  army  continued  lit'  the  Canada  side» 
jf^eeniingly  re^lved^o  maintain  itself  against  an 
enemy,  which  was  receiving  frequent  reinforce- 
ments, and  had,  after  a  little  time,  become  for- 
midable in  numbers  and  equipments. 

The  enemy,  after  recovening  the .  effects  of 
the  battle  of  Bridgwater,  moved  up  toward  the 
American  army,  at  Fort  Erie  ;  and  fi'cquent 
skirmishes  en&ued,  in  whlt^h  the  enemy  was  ge- 
nerally worsted.  On  the  8d  August,  about  500 
regulars,  under  col.  Tucker,  crossed  below 
Black  Rock,  but  were  met  liy  200  rifleiQen,  and 
a  party  of  volunteer8>  under  mi\jor  Morgan* 
and,  after  a  long  contest,  were  defeated,  and 
eompelled  to  re-cross  the  river.  Brigadier-ge- 
.serai  Gaines,  arrived  at  £rie  the  4th  August, 
mnd  assumed  the  command,  during  gen.  Brown's 
iliness. 

On  the  15th  August,  the  enemy,  under 'the 
immediate  command  of  general  Drummond,  at- 
tempted to  storm  Fort  Erie  ;  the  result  was 
,  tftommunicaled  in  a  letter  from  general  Gaines, 
■to  the  secretaijr  of  war^of  which  tho  iollowiog 
Isaeo^y. 


■,  ^ 


BI9T01IT  09  THE  WABf 


^^ 


«  Head-Quarter«,  Fort  £rie|  U«C. 
Aug.  15,7  A.  M.  1814. 
*(  Dear  5ir— My  heart  is  gladdenedf  wifh  ^fati< 
tude  to  Heavcii)  and  joy  to  my  country,  to  have  it  in 
my  power  to  inform  you,  that  the  gallant  army  uti- 
d6r  my  command)  has  this  morning  beaten  iihe  eiie* 
my  4'omniaMcled  by  licut  g^n.  Orummond,  after  a* 
severe  conflict  of  three  hours,  commencing  at  2 
o'clock,  A.  M,  They  attacked  us  on  each  flaiik 
got  possession  of  the  salient  bistion,  of  tttf)  old  fort 
Erie  ;  which  was  regained  at  the  point  of  the  bayo/- 
net,  with  a  dreadfif  1  slaughter.  The  enemy's  lo3s« 
in  killed  and  prisoners,  is  about  fiOO;  near  300  kill* 
ed.  Ou:  loss  is  considerable,  but  I  think  not.  one* 
tenth  us. great  as  that  i^l  the  enemy.  I  will  not  de* 
tain  the  express  to  give  you  the  particulars.  1  4m 
preparing  my  force  to  follow  up  the  blow." 

The  atisault  was  of  that  desperate  nature, 
that  was  calculated  to  rub  away  the  stains  of 
former  defeats,  to  resuscitate  the  sinking  eharmft 
of  an  assumed  invincibility,  and  save  the  Brit- 
ish general  from  contempt,  and  perhaps,  dis- 
grace.   The  projection  was, grand  ;  the  means 
of  accomplisliing  it*,  great,  and  relied  on  for  its 
efficiency  ;    the  attempt  to  exeonte,   was  sup- 
portecj  with  an  enthusiasm  in  th^  officers,  and  a 
:  mechiinical  obedience  in  the  men,  which  pro- 
mised, and  almost  secured  success.    Th^  invin- 
eibles  were,  however,  destined  to  another  de- 
leat ;  and  the  \mericans  added  another  wreath 
.  to  the  laurels  with  which  they  were  already  so 
pleniifully  blessed.     The  enemy  was  largely 
tupplied  with  the  means  generally  used  on  sueh^ 
occasions,  pikes,  bayonets,  spears*  scaling- lad- 
ders»  kei     Repulsed  and  repulsed,  he  rallied 
.  And  returned  to  the  attack  ;  he  carried  a  has- 
tion,  and.  by  his  conduct,  evinced,  what  was  to 
jhe  the  fate  of  the  republloftii8>  if  ?an<]^^i8hed» 


K.y 


i^4!^ 


BISTORT  OV  THB  WAB; 


Lieutk  M<DougaC,  being  severely  'wounded*  fn^ 
defending  the  bastion,  denianded  quarter,  it 
i¥as  refused,  gien.  0ruinmond  crying  out, «« give 
the  damned  Yankees  no  quarter."  M^Dougal 
defended  himself  until  shot  down,  by  a  pistol. 
*The  bastion  was  re-taken,  by  the  greatest  dis- 
play of  courage  and  exertion* 
•  This  assault  was  preceded  by  a  cannonade 
and  bombardineu^,  which  commenced  at  sun- 
Ti?&  on  the  morning  of  the  ISth,  and  continued 
until  8  o'clock^  P.  M.  i  was  re-commenced  on 
the  14th,  at  day-light,  and  continued  untik  niglit 
— the  assault  was  commenrsd  at  half  past  2  on 
the  morning  of  the  1 5tL.'ii%e  resukt  was  the 
defeat  .of  the  assailants^  accompanied  with  a 
'  loss,  of  2^2  men  killed,  174  wounded,  and  186 
prfsoners — total  582,  exclusive  of  a  mimber 
^supposed  200)  killed  in  the  water,  and  carried 
oflr  by  the  current.  The  Americans  lost  26  kil- 
led, 91  wounded,  and  11  missing — total  129. 

The  enemy  continued  in  the  neighborhood  of 
'Fort  Erie,   strengthening  and  extending   his 
"Works,  and  tsalling  in-  reinforcements,  with  a 
'  view  to  the  i^imate  occupation  of  the  fort,  and 
the  capture  or  destruction  of  the  gfarri^on.-^-^ 
The  enemy's  works  were  constructed  in  t^  field 
'  surrounded  by  woods.  Their  infani!^  was  form- 
\fd  into  three  brigades  of  about  1.0OO  men  each. 
^On*^  of  these  brigades,  with  a.delail  from  their 
artillery,  was  stationed  at  their  works   (these 
^  lieing  but  500  yards  distant  from  Old  Fcrt  Ei'ie, 
V|iind  the  right  of  general   Brown's  line.)      The 
American^  *»ad' already  suflered  much  from  two 
^  »f  the  ene/nv's  batfeiie?  ;  and  a  third  v/as  about 
'  to  be  opencQ.     Gen.  Brown';s  siiutdiojri  was  ex- 
tremely criti«;al.     As  the  only  nsodo  of  i'c!H'V- 
ibg  himseiiAy  he  determiaed  ta  stoi-m  the  batie.^ 


BISTORT  OF  THE  WAR. 


^49 


tiet»  destroy  the  eannons»  and  roughly  handle 
the  enemy's  hrigade  on  duty,  before  those  in 
reserve  Tvould  be  brought  into  action. 

The  enemy's  works  were  very  strong*  rcgu- 
iar,  and  executed  with  a  studied  intricacy,  con- 
sisting of  a  breast- work,  connecting  their  batte- 
ries, and  of  suoeessive  lin<^s  of  entrenchments  ip 
the  rear,  covering  the  batteries  and  enfilading 
•aoh  other  ;  and  the  whole  obstructed  by  abba- 
tis,  brush,  and  felled  timber.  It  was  c^culatf- 
ed  to  resist,  i^ndihrow  into  confu8ion«  the  most 
experienced  assailants,  and  led  to  many  severe 
contests  with  the  bayonet. 

Directions  were  given,  by  general  Brown,  t<r 
inarch  at  noon,  on  the  l7th  Heptepiber,  to  th^ 
intended  assault.  Gen.  Porter  eommanded  a 
detachment  of  volunteers,  riflemen,  regular  in- 
fantry, and  a  few  dragoons.  These  moved  from 
the  extreme  left  of  the  American  position  upon 
the  enemy's  right*  by  a  passage  opened  through 
the  woods  for  the  occasion.  Ge  n.  IHlller  sta- 
tioned his  command  in  the  ravine  between  Fort 
Erie  and  the  enemy's  batteries,  by  passing  the^n 
by  detaehments  through  the  skirts  of  the  wood. 
The  21st  infantry^  under  gen.  Riftley,  was  post- 
ed as  a  corps  of  reserve,  between  the  new  bas- 
ti'^ns  of  Fort  Erie.  «  About  20  miuutes  past  S 
P.  M.*'  says  gen.  Brown,  in  his  official  report^ 
«  I  found  the  left  column,  under  the  eommaud 
•f  g<«n.  Porter,  which  were  destined  (o  turn  the 
enemy's  right,  within  a  few  rods  of  the  British 
entrench  moots.  They  were  ordered  to  advance 
and  commence  the  action.  Passing  down  the 
ravine,  I  judged,  from  the  report  of  musketry^ 
th?l  the  action  had  commenced  on  our  left  ;  I 
now  hastened  to  gen.  Miller,  and  directed  hih> 
to  sei^e  the  moment;  and  pierce  the  enemy's  en*. 


^0 


BI8T0BT  OF  TOE   WAR. 


trenobmentsy  between  batteries  No.  2  and  d.-w 
My  orders  were  promptly  and  ably  executed.-^ 
Witbin  30  minutes  after  tbe  first  gun  was  fir.ed» 
batteries  No.  S  and  2,  the  enemy's  line  of  en- 
trenchments, and  his  two  block-houses,  were  in 
our  possession.  Soon  after,  battery  No.  1  was 
abandoned  by  tbe  British.  The  guns  in  each 
vere  spiked  by  us,  or  otherwise  destroyed,  and 
t|ie  magazine  of  No.  3,  was  blown  up.'* 

The  enemy's  loss  exceeded,  fVom  tbe  most 
probable  account,  1090  men,  including  2  majors, 
4  captains,  4  lieutenants,  1  ensign,  1  assistant- 
surgeon,  4  staff-sergeants,  19  sergeants,  17  cor- 
porals, 1  drummer,  and  332  priYates.  The  A- 
raerieans  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing, 
511.  General  Davis,  of  the  militia,  was  killed. 
The  action  lasted  more  than  two  hours,  and 
"was  warmly  contested  for  about  one  hour.  In 
the  course  of  the  action,  the  entire  of  the  ene- 
my's force  was  brought  into  action,  consisting 
prioeipally  (^regulars  under  command  of  lieut. 
general  Drummond.  So  satisfied  was  the 
British  general  c^his  inability  to  contend,  even 
aided  by  his  wterans,  against  the  raw  soldiers 
that  formed  the  American  army,  that  he  broke 
up  his  camp,  during  the  night  of  the  21st,  and 
retired  to  'bis  entrenchments  behind  the  Chip- 
pa  wa.  ««Thus,"  says  general  Brown,  "one 
tbousand  regulars,  and  an  equal  portion  of  mi- 
litia, in  one  hour  of  close  action,  blasted  the 
hopesof  the  enemy,  destroyed  the  fruits  of  50 
days  labor,  and  diminished  his  effective  force, 
one  thousand  men  at  least." 

An  expedition,  under  command  of  lieut.  col. 
G.  Crogban,  was  set  on  foot  in  July,  1814 ;  the 
ehief  object  of  which,  was  the  reduction  of  Fort 
Mackinac,  which  had  been  taken  by  the  apf 


v;.K-n-~ 


HItTOBT  OV  THE  WAR, 


ft5i 


emv  in  the  early  part  of  the  war.    The  expe- 
dition left  i^&vt  Gatriot  (  head  of  Straits  SU 
Clair)  on  the  12th.    Owing  to  a  want  of  pilots 
acquainted  with  the  unfrequented  part  of  the. 
bay.   the  intended  course    of  the  vessels  was 
somewhat  altered;  they  anchored  at  St.  Jo- 
seph's on  the  2ath.     After  setting  fire  to  the 
^ort  of  St.  Joseph,  which  seemed  not  to  bate 
^pBcn  recently  occupied,  a  detacl)ment  oi  infant-^ 
ry  and  artillery,  under  major  Holmes,  was  or- 
dered to  Sault,  St.  Mary's,  for  the  purpose  or 
breaking  up  the  enemy's  establishment  at  tliat 
place.     A  few  hours  before  the  arrival  of  major 
Holmes  at  the  Sault,  St.  Mary's,  the  northwest 
agent  was  apprised  of  his  approach,  and   suc- 
ceeded in  escaping  with  a  large   quantity  of 
goods.    A  large  quantity  were,  however,  found 
secreted  in  the  woods,  on  the  American  side.-— ^ 
These  were  cltlimed  by  the  agent  of  John  John- 
son, an  Indian  trader;  but  Miyor  Holmes  de- 
clined giving  them  to  Mr.  Johnson,  «  because,'^ 
as  major   Holmes  observed,  in  his  letter  to 
lifeut.  coL    Croghan,  <*it  was  good  prize  by 
the  maritime    law  of  nations,  as  recognized 
in  the  Knglish  courts,  (witness  the  ease  of  ad- 
miral Rodney  adjudged  by  Lord  Mansfield.) — 
Further,  because  Johnston  has  acted  the  infa- 
mous part  of  a  traitor,  having  been   a  citizen 
and  a  magistrate  of  the  Michigan  territory, 
before  the  war  and  at  its  commenoement,  and 
now  discharging  the  functions  of  magistrate  un- 
der the  British  government.     Beeange,  his  a- 
gents  armed  the  Indians  from  his   stoie-house 
at  our  approach ;   and   lastly,  because,  those 
goods,  or  a  considerable  part,  were  designed  to 
be  taken  to.  Michilimackinac." 
The. expedition  reached  Miehilimackinao  on 


ftH 


msfOIlT  or  THE  WAA. 


:m' 


the  26th»  where  the  enemy  wiis  fouQd  so  Btroogi 
ly  posted  on  a  beight,  overiookii^  the  old  fort^ 
that  his  reduetion  by  stormy  with  the  small 
force  under  eol.  Groghan>  seemed  very  doubtful. 
It  was  the  colonel's  wish^at  all  hazards^  to  dis- 
embark in  some  favorable  position,  from  which 
he  might  be  able  to  annoy  the«enemy  by  grad- 
liinl'  and  slow  approaches*  under  cover  of  hji. 
artillery,  and.  where,  by  fortiQrine  himse^p 
}ie  might  force  the  enemy  to  attack  nim  in  hi^ 
strong  position ;  or  draw  his  Indians  and  Cana- 
dians (his  most  efficient  and  only  disposable 
force)  from  the  islaml. 

, ,  Being  informed,  by  old  residents  of  the  island, 
"where  a  fffvorable  position  might  be  obtained^ 
he  effected  a  landing  on  the  4th  August,  and 
advanced  to  the  field  where  an  encampment  was 
intended,  when  he  received  intelligence  that 
the  enemy  was  ahead,  of  which  he  was  soon 
convinced,  by  a  discharge  of  shot  and   shells 
from  a  battery  of  4  guns.    The  colonel,  hereon, 
changed  his  position,  (which  was  then  two  lines^ 
the  militia  formittg  the  front,)  by  advancing 
major  Hdlmbs'sbattaltion  on  the  right  of  the 
militia,  thus  to  outflank  him,  and  by  a  rigorous 
eftiiri  to  gain  his  rear.    Before  this  movement 
eould  be  executed^  a  fire  from  s  ome  Indians, 
posted  in  a  thick  wood,  proved  fatal  to  miyor 
Holmes,  and  severely  wounded  captain  Deslia, 
the  next  in  rank.    This  misfbrtuiae  threw  that 
MlNt'of  the  line  into  confusion,  from  which  it 
H^'ibtthd  impossible  to  recover  it.    As  the  only 
liielhod  left  of  anhoying  the  enemy,  colonel 
Croghan  ordered  a  charge  to  be  made  on  his 
front  by  the  regulars.     The  enemy  ^las  thus 
driven  back  into  the  woods,  from,  which   an 
Iknnoying  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  Indians.  Lieut. 


m- 


0I8TORT  OT  TUB  WA|t. 


$9$ 


Morgan  brought  up  a  light  piece  to  reliero  the 
Jefi  >Vliioh  ivaB  'su^ering  fi'oni  a  galling  (Ire  : 
the  excellent  |>rActieo  of  this  piece  brouglit  tbo 
enemy  to  fire  at  a  longer  distance. 

Colonel  Croghan.  finding  the  position^  from 
ivhich  the.  enemy  was  driven  not  tonabloy  he 
determined  not  to  continue  to  expose  his  men  to 
a  danger,  from  which  no  good  result  could  be 
expected.  He  therefore  ordered  a  retreat  t^ 
the  shipping. 

.  Sailing-* master  Cbamplin,  whose  Tersely  the 
Tigress,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  cneniy,  and 
who,  with  his  crew*  were  prisoners  at  Michili- 
niackinac,  arrived  at  Erie  in  November,  Capt. 
Arthur  Sinclair,  commanding  the  United  States' 
naval  force  on  the  upper  lakes,  states,  in  a  let- 
ter to  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  on  the  author- 
ity of  sailing-master  Champlin,  that  «  the  eon- 
duct  of  the  enemy  to  our  prisoners  (the  erew  of 
the  Tigress)  thus  captured,  and  the  inhuman 
l)utchcry  of  those  who  fell  into  their  bands,  at 
the  attack  of  Maokinackt  lias  been  barbarous 
beyond  a  par^Iel.  Theibrnier  have  been  plun- 
dered of  almost  every  article  of  clothing  tliey 
possessed  ;  the  latter  had  their  hearts  and  liv- 
ers taken  out,  which  were  actually  cooked  antl 
feast^d^m  by  the  savages,  and  that  too  in  the 
quarters  «f  the  British  offieers,  sanctioned  by 
col.  M<Doupll," 

The  British  army,  under  gen.  Drntnmond, 
liuing  considerably  reinforced,  tbere  appeared 
an,  ab«okite  necessity  to  stJ*ei|gtfaen  4bat  ^tnder 
gen.  Brown,  or  to  make  sticb  a  diversion  or  co- 
operation, as  would  dr?^"^  off  tlie  enemy  from 
the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Erie,  or  compel  him 
to  surrender.  A  Vigorous  attaek  on  KingstoQ 
saust^  if  jnade^  produce  the  first  of  these  efiects:; 

w 


.s^' 


-^ 


:W'. 


tf^ 


niSTORT  02  THE  VTAB. 


the  throwiiig  of  a  large  force  iftto  the  rear  of 
gen.  Drummond,  miglst  have  the  latter  effept. 
Gen.  Izard  marched  from  1  lattsburghy  about 
the  1st  September,  vflih  a  large  force,  which 
formed  a  junction  with  gen.  Brown,  about  the 
12th  October  ;  thus  having,  unfortuui«tely,  oc- 
eupied  more  than  40  days  m  performing  a  jour- 
riey  of  253  miles  by  iund,  and  a  \oyage  of  90 
miles  by  water—total  distance  from  Plattsburg 
to- Black  Rock,  343  miles. . 

The  ^  slow  movement  of  gem  Izard's  army, 
gave  to  the  enemy  the  time  necessary  to  equip 
the  new  ship,  St.  Lawrence,  i\f  90  guns,  lately 
built  at  Kingston.  The  British  ileet,  with  this 
big  ship,  appeared  off  Niagara,  the  2d  Novem- 
ber, and  gave  to  the  enemy  the  command  of 
lake  Ontario,  by  which  gen^  Drummond  could 
be  reinforced  or  taken  off,  if  necessary.  It  also 
enabled  the  enemy  to  threaten  Sackett's  Har- 
bor ;  and  gen.  Brown  was  ordered  to  the  dc* 
fence  of  the  Harbor,  leaving  gen.  Izard  in  cont- 
mand  at  Brie. 

The  campaign  in  the  neighborhood  of  Niaga- 
ra m'^ist,  l;rom  the  lateness  of  the  season,  be 
drawing  to  a  '^lose  ;  it  appeared  to  ^en.  Izard, 
that  his  army  could  not 'remain  in  safety  at 
^i£rie,  the  fort  was  therefore  destroyedma^d  the 
army  crossed  to  Buifaloe,  where  it  took  up  win- 
ter quarters. 

The  army  left  at  Plattsburgh,  after  the  march 
of  gen.  Izard,  was  very  weak  |  the  command 
devolved  on  gen^  Macomb.  The  enemy  em' 
braced  this  opportunity  for  making  an  incursion 
into  th<7)  state  of  New*¥ork,  on  the  side  of  Lake 
ChampJain^  with  a  view  to  secure  a  strong  po- 
sition at  Crown  Point,  or  Ticonderoga,  previous 
t»  goin^  into  Winter  quarteri ;  and^  ultimately^ 


'f 


HISTOBT  OF  THE  WAB. 


«6Jf 


to  co-operate  with  an  army)  tbat  was  to  invade 
the  state  of  New-York,  or  Connecticut^  on^he 
sea-board;  and  thus  effect  the  great  object  of 
the  British  government,  the  political  separa- 
tion of  the  eastern  from  the  southern  states. 

Geo.  Sir  George  Prevost«  commanded  th<9 
BHtish  land  forces,  destined  for  this  service* 
cfonsisting  of  four  brigades,  each  commanded 
bj^  a  major-general  of  experi^Dce  ;  a  light 
squadron  of  dragoons,  and  an  iminense  train  of 
U'tillery>  and  all  the  engines  of  war ;  the  entire 
Amounting  to  14r,00(>  men.  While  tnO  troops 
advanced  by  land,  the  fleet,  apparently  superior 
to  the  American,  advanced  by  water.  To  re- 
sist this  overwhelming  force,  gen.  Macomb  had 
but  1500  effectives.  In  aid  of  this  small  force* 
the  militiH  was  hastily  assembled. 
'  The  filritish  governor-general  entered  the 
territory  of  the  United  States*  on  the  ±»t  Sept- 
4emher,  and  fixed  his  head -quarters  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Champlain;  from  which,  he  eemmenoed 
an  attack,  by  promises  and  thi*eats^  on  the  oiti^ 
zehs  of  the  United,  States,  previous  to  the  more 
serious  attacks  which  were  to  be  simultaneous 
by  land  and  water,  and  were  efibctuaJly  to  ovejr- 
throw  all  oppo^ition  on  both.  . 
^n  the  2d,  the  British  army  marched  from 
Ctkamplain ;  on  the  5th,  it  appeared,  in  full 
force,  before  the  village  of  Plattsburg ;  the  11th 
•was  fixed  on  for  the  attack  by  land  and  water. 
At  9  o'clock  in  themorning  of  that  day,  the  en- 
emy's ilotilla  on  Lake  Ghamplain,  passed  Cum- 
.berland-head.  It  consisted  of  1  frigate  of  3^ 
guns,  1  brig  of  22  guns,  2  sloops  dT  10  guns 
each,  and  several  galleys.  The  American  fleet  lay  ^ 
in  Cumberland-bay,  opposite  Plattsburg.  The  * 
enemy,  superior  in  vessels*  guns*  an<^  number 


ssso 


HISTORY  OF  THB  WAS. 


of  meoy  advancei^r  'with  that  confidence,  "whieh 
Jiis^nperiority  of  fet*ce>  inspu*ed ;  and  the  bloody 
«onfliojt  began.  Com^  Thomas  Maedohough, 
oommandeu  the  Amei'ican  flotillR.  Undaunted^ 
he  waited  the  attaek,  trusting  in  the  heroism  of 
ar  Mttle  bandy  wbich  seemed  detei^ined  to  con- 
query  or  die.  For  two  Kours^ and  fifteen  minuteii» 
Uie  contest  was  maintaioedy  with  an  obstinacy^ 
wht^h,  while#  added  to,  or  rather,  perfected 
the  renown  aftady  acquired  by  the  American 
seamen^^did  not  disgrace  the  vanquished^  Mo- 
desty seems  to  be  a  quality  highly  possessed  by 
the  naval  commanders  in  the  United  ,  States.-— 
The  following  laconic  letter,  written  to  the  sec- 
retfary  of  the  navy,  by  commodore  Macdonough, 
is  at  once  a  proof  of  modeUy,  and  a  notice  of 
success;  • 

<*  The  Almighty  has  lyften  pleased  to  grant  tfs  a 
signal  victory  on  Luke  Champlain,  in  the  capture  of 
one  frigatC)  one  brig,  and  two  sloops  of  war,  of  the 
enemy." 

The  American  galleys  were  about  pursuing 
those  of  the  enemy^  that  Wbve  making  their  e»- 
eape,  but,  it  being  discovered,  thar  all  the  ves- 
pls  were  :n  a  sinking  state,  it  became  necessa- 
iry  to  annul  the  signal  to  chase,  and  order  the 
men  from  the  galleys  to  the  pumps.  «  I  Oflld 
only,*'  observed  com.  Macdonough,  <<  Jook  at 
the  enemy's  galleys  going  ofi"  in  a  shattered 
condition,  for  there  was  not  a  mast  in  either 
squadron  that  could  stand  to  make  sail  on  ;  the 
lower  irigging  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung 
down  as  though  it  had  bcfn  just  placed  oyer  the. 
mast-heads/'  <<  The  Saratoga,''  continued  the 
commodore,  **hvidjifttl-five  round  shot  in  her 
hull ;  the  Confiance,  (enemy's  vessel)  one  Imnd* 
red  end  Jive,'' 


99 


% 


HISTOBT  OV  THS  VIAM, 


5t&f 


•  The  fbllowing  is  a  comparative  view  of  the 
niuinherand  strength  of  the  vessels  eng^gecl^ 
and  the  loss  on  board  them. 

j  AMURICAV. 

.:  Oun8.Alen,Kille(i,fVoundedi 


Ship  Saratoga                  3d    210 

28 

29 

Brig  Eagle                       90     1^0 

.13 

20 

Schooner  Ticonderoga     17     110 

6 

6 

Sloej>  Preble                      7     ,30 

2 

0 

It)  Gun-boats                    16    350 

3- 

3 

Total                   86     820 

52 

5S 

BBITISH. 

"  ■ 

f'rigate  Confiahce           39     300 

50 

m  60i^ 

Brig  Linnet                    16     120 

20 

30 

Chub(formerly  Growler)  1 1       40 

6 

10 

Finch  (formerly  Eagle)  1 1       40 

8 

JO 

13  Gun-boats                   18-    stOsu, 

fihoaed 

tobeiu 

Total 


95   1050       84 


110 


.  At  the  same  hour  that  the  fleets  engaged,  thib 
ene my  opened  his  batterie s  on  the  A merican 
forts»  throwing  hundreds  of  shells,  balls  and 
rockets  ;  and  attempted;  at  the  saihf?  time,  to 
cross  the  Saranae  river,  dt  three  diflerent  points^ 
to  assault  the  Ameriean  works.  At  the  upper 
ford,  he  was  met  by  the  Vermont  volunteers  and 
l^e^-York  militia.  Here  a  most  interestihg 
eonQict  took  place  ;  OQ  tiie  one  side,  the  best 
troops  of  Britain,  led  on  by  her  most  consum- 
mate offieers,  men  and  ofRoers  selected  from 
those  soldiers,  who,  under  command  of  the 
Puke  of  Wellington,  had  acquired  the  charac- 
ter of  *<  Invincible,"  inen  who  had  tioiri|^Pi*ed 
in  Portugal,  Spain^  France,  and  the  Iwls  f  am 
the  other  side,  men  not  reared  to  arilibs,  not 
Itsed  to  battle^  most  of  them  bora  since  their 


9^^ 


mSTOKY  Oif  THE  IfJOf 


^ 


sireil  had  imiDortalized  themselves  in  combat 
<»n  this  same  groiindy  the  descendants  of  the 
«  Green  Mountain-boys/'  and  of  those  heroes 
who  conquered  at  Saratoga,  &c.  The  object 
itt  conteift  was  great ;  on  it;  was,  probably,  to 

event  of  the  war.    The  cn- 
I  recovery  of  a  territonr  which 
king  the  most  powerful  Prince 
flh  the  world,  the  officers  looked  to  placets  -of 
emolument,  piiiisions,  grants  of  land,  titles  of 
^Mpijity.  Stfirs,  garters,  ribbands,  plunder,  hon- 
ors, andr^iches,  in  a  thousand  shapes  and  forms ; 
thp  hopest  American  yeomen   sought  neither 
pay  n<^  pecuniary  reward*  beyond  thedaily  sti- 
pend of  a  soldier*    But  yesterday,  they  were  at 
their  ploughs,  to-ilay,  they  grasped  their  rifles, 
«nd  hurried  to  th#  threshold  of  their  countr^'-*- 
th^r  4]ltimate  reward^w^s  to  be  a  confirmation 
«# the  liberties  entailed  on  them  by  their  sires^ 
Ir  continuation  of  that  independence  they  were 
determined  to  preserve,  or  iibt  to  survive.  The 
eOBAiot  liras  influenced  by  feelings  which  drew 
Ibrtli  the  utmost  exertions  of  both  parties,  and: 
fittbstitiited  desperation  on  one  side,  andunliend- 
Ing  patriotism  on  the  other,  iij^place  of  that  in- 
diflbiMinee  or  eowardice,  whicn  so  often  leads 
^disaster and  disgrace.     Seterai  times  were 
the  enemy  repulsed,  several  times  did  he  re- 
■0mt^  the  ford  ;   astc^ished  at  this  obstinate 
^IMeistaiiBe,  from  woodsmen,  suddenly  assembled 
«n  the  occasion,  the  enemy  yet  believed  they 
^^«^^piist  give  way  |  again  he  advances,  again  he  is^ 
'  i|^l|^tsed ;  astonished,  confounded,  dismayed,  hc^ 
^tires,  no  longer  Snvine&le,  be  acknowledges 
%lefit«-^efeatl^^m  whop  ?   l^t  WeUli^n?K 
111^:  answer,  orfet  them  send  Air  a  r(^^  ^o 
iil»Bioiiiit(UDB  of  Vflipwt*  or  the  wild^itists 


vIUSfOBY  09  TWB  WiB. 


^m 


vf  New-York.  At  the  bridge  near  the  lillf^, 
he  was  repulsed  hy  the  pickets^  and  the  brave 
rifieinen»  under  oapt.  Grosvenor^  and  lieutea*- 
ttnts  HaiKiilto?!  and  ^ilej ;  and,  at  the  bridge  m 
the  town,  he  was  failed  by  the  guards,  blook'* 
houses,  and'^he  artillery  of  die  forts,  serrieiAJ^y 
-e9pta]|is  Alexander  Brooks,  Bichards  and  Subith^ 
nnd  lieutenants  Munford,  Smith  and  CromweU* 
The  0n^niv'8  lire  was  returned  with  efibetfrom 
thebattenes;  by  sun-set,  seven  of  his  newly 
raised  batteries  were  silenced  |  and  he  was  seen- 
f  etirin^  to  his  oamp.  Beaten  by  land  and  by 
<Wf|ter,  the  British  governor-general  withdrew 
his  artillery  ,and=  raised  the  siege.  Under  favor 
<of  a  dark  night,  he  sent  off  his  heavy  baggl^e,. 
and  retreated  with  his  whole  army  towai'ds  €a- 
hada,  leaving  his  wounded  in  the  fielid^  and  a- 
Tast  quantity  of  provii^ns,  and  munitions  of 
^r,  which  he  had  not  time  to  destroy.  The 
light  troops,  volunteers  and  militia,  pursued- 
him  on  the  follewing  day,  capturing  a^veral  sol- 
diers, and  covering  the  escape  of  a  great  aum-> 
her  of 'deserters  t  bad  weadier  prevented  the 
pursuit  to  be  eontinued,  beyond  Chazy.  Thns^^ 
have  14,000  regulars,  with  the  best  firiti^offi- 
^^er|,  and  the  be^  military  equipment^  been  bea^ 
^ii|.  by  a  regular  force  of  only  1300  men^ 
flid^,500  militia  and  volunteers  ;  the  militia 
ooniinanded''by  gen.  Mooers,  and  the.volttnteers  ■ 
by  gen.  Strongs  The  enemy,  havug  retired^ 
from  republican  ground)  the  militia  and  volnn** 
leers  were  dismissed.  ' 

The  official  return  l^th»hMlr^#b0.^^ 
9att  regulars,  amounted  tol  subaiterii^^  l.ser«^ 
.geint,  Jl  musicianf  and  aif  privates,  k01#|r^toii|Ii 
a47  ;  ^  subalterns,  1  sergeant-major,  4  sergeani9» 


StfO 


BISTOtlT  0¥  TBE  WAB. 


'••% 


ed~tota1  62  f  total  killed^  wounded  and  m}ff» 
sing,  liL9. 

General  M^Comb  states  the  loss  of  the  enc- 
niy»  on  the  land  and  lake^  at  not  less  than  2500= 
men, 

While  glory  and  victory  attended  the  armies 
of  the  United  States,  the  navy  eontinued  in- 
creasing its  number  of  viotories,  and  private 
armed  vessels  carried  destruction  to  the  enemy 
in  every  sea.  Even  in  the  British  channelythe 
enemy  felt  that  his  thousand  ships  of  war  could 
not  bring  safety  to  his  traders.  Insurance  'to 
cross  the  channel^  rose  from  a  few  shillings  to 
five  guineas,  ($S23  75)  per  cent-  *   : 

iln  iat.  27,  47  N.  Ion.  80,  9,  on  the  29th  Aprl^ 
1814,  the  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Peacock,  fell  in 
with  his  Britannic  majesty's  brig  Eperviei*,  rat- 
ing and  mounting  IS  ^2-pound  earronades,  with 
128  men.  The  Eperviei*  struck  her  colors  al^ 
ter  an  actfon  of  42  minutes,  anfl  the  loss  of  3 
men  killed  and  1^  wounded.  Two  men  were 
slightly  wounded  on  board  the  Peacock.  Both 
vessels  arrived  at  Savannahs  the  prile  being, 
"with  difficulty,  kept  above  water.  The  damage 
-sullfered  hy  the  two  vessels,  will  he  seen  by  the 
following  extract  from  the  official  report. of 
eapt.  Warrington. 

*«  Xhi«,  (the  disabling  ofa  fore  yard)  with  a  fl§tr 
top  miaist,  and  topogallant  back  stays  cut  away,  a  fe^ 
.9hot  through  our  sails,  is  the  only  injury  the  Pea- 
cock has  sustained.  Kot  a  rouiid  shot  touched  our 
hull ;  oi^r  masts  and  spars  are  as  sound  as  ever.-— 
.  Wh^i*  the-  enemy  struck,  he  had  i^ve  feet  water  in 
his  hold,  his  main  top-mast  was  over  the  side,  his 
mai/i  boom  shot  awjiy,  his  £«re-mas^  cut  nearly  i^v 
two  and  'ottering,  his  fore  ringing  and  stays  shot  a- 
'  Wity,  his  bowsprit  badly  wounded,  and  45  shot  holes 
in  hi^  hull,  30  of  which  were  withia »  foo^  of  lus 
water  line." 


BISTOKT  OF  TBB  \VAB. 


261 


The  £per?ier  had  120^,000  dollars^  in  speeie, 
4n  board. 

The  United  States*  sloop  of  war  Frolic,  Jo- 
seph Bainbridge,  oommander,  was  captured,  af- 
iger  a  chase,  by  H.  B.M./r}gdle  Orpheus,  of1i6 
2un8^  on  the  20th  April.  A  court  of  inquiry,  held 
iSn  board  the  U.  S.  fk^igate  Constitution,  at 
New- York,  the  20th  April,  isid,  gave  their  o^ 
pinion  >  <<-tkat  the  same  was  not  lost,  through 
the  fault,  inattention  or  negligenee,  ofeaptaiQ 
BaiUbridge."    The  court  also  reported  fayorar 
lilyon  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  erew  of 
^e  Frolic. 

His  Britannic  majesty's  sloop  o^  war  Bein* 
4eer,  was  captured  the  28th  June,  1814,  in  lat. 
A8, 36  N.  and  Ion.  11, 16  W.  bv  the  U.  S.  sloop 
lof  war  Wasp,  capt.  J.  Blakely.  The  action 
«onmienced  at  26  witlutes  after  3,  P.  M. ;  at  45 
minutes  past  8,  the  enemy  was  carried  by  boardr 
ing.  The  action,  for  the  short  time  it  lasted; 
was  severe,  and  both  yessels  and  ere w»  suffered 
considerably.  The  loss  on  board  the  Wasp,  was 
principally  oeoasibned  by  repelling  the  enemy, 
in  two  attempts  which  he  made  to  board.  The 
Beindeer  mounted  16  24-peund  oarronades,  2 
}ong  6  or  9-pounders,  and  a  shifting  12-pouBd 
earlronade,  with  a  compliment  of  il8  picked 
men,  ealled,  from  their  appearance,  the  f*  pride 
of  Plymouth,' -  1  he  Keindeer  was  literally  cut 
to  pieces,  sm^o  complete  a  wreck,  in  both  hull 
•and  rigging^at  it  was  found  necessary  to  de- 
stroy her.  Her  commander,  (Williaui  Manners, 
Bsq.)  and  22  petty  officers  an  i  «eamen,  were 
luilled  ;  wounded  dangerously,  10 ;  severely,  17  5 
slightly,  tb — total  killed  and  wounded,  7b, 

On  boafd  the  Wasp,  there  were  5  killed  and 
21  wounded.    Six  round  s^ot  strucji  the  hull  of 


^«d 


HISTOBT'OV  TRX  WAX. 


tbe  Wasp ;  a  3i-pbund  shot  passed  through  the 
foremast,  and  a  considerable  number  of  grape 
'struck,  but  did  not  penetrate  her  sides.  '  The 
Ifliasp  arrived  at  L'Orfut,  tb-  Sill  July. 

'he  Wasp  srj'e;'  f-^o  *  t.  O.k  u  on  the  27t) 
August.  At  half  past  l  ;>  Joe^:,  P.  M.  the  Ij 
September,  engaged  m  ves  !,  s^^rDosed  to  be 
large  brig  of  war,  and  forced  htk  ii  strike  her 
flag,  at  12  minutes  past  10.  In  a  feMr  minutes^ 
eapt.  Biakely  discovereti  another  brig,  and  pre  > 
paired  for  action  ;  at  36  minutes  past  10,  2  brigs 
lA  sight,  when  the  Wasp  >vas  compelled  to.  re- 
linquish  her  prize.  The  Wasp  lost  2  men  kil- 
led, and  had  1  man  wounded.  The  enemy,  af- 
ter his  surrender,  was  heard,  asking  assistance, 
and  said  he  was  sinking.  The  enemy's  yessel 
proved  -afterwards  to  be  the  JlTon.  Ey  the 
British  details,  it  was  acknowledged,  that  the 
two  vessels,  which  came  in  aid  of  the  Avon, 
were  the  Castilian  and  Tartai^us,  each  of  them 
of  force  equal  to  the  Wasp.  The  Avon  went 
to  the  bottom,  after  the  surviving  part  of  her 
crew  was  removed  on  board  the  other  British 
vessels.  The  Avon  was  in  the  Delaware  in, 
1810  ;  she  then  carried  18  32-pound  carronades, 
besides  bow  and  stern  guns.  ^ 

The  E^sex,  capt.  Porter,  the  smallest^rigate 
in  the  American  navy,  was  destined  to  prote 
immensely  injurious  to  the  enemy.  Her  cruise 
in  the  Pacific  ocean  has  supplied  jj^iple  materi- 
als for  an  interesting  volume,  ^apt.  JPorter 
not  only  protected  the  American  shipping  a^ 
£rainst  the  numerous  letters  of  marque,  which 
tlAc  enemy  had  sent  into  those  seas,  but  rendrr- 
ett'  these  very  letters  of  marque  tributary  to  his 
plan  of  destroving  the  enemy's  trade,  particu- 
larly in  th^  fisheries. 


Hir    AT  ov  TUB  yrJJi; 


m 


Capi.  Porter  » ailed  fro  Ji  the  Delaware,  the 
274JI  October,  ^12.  On  his  passage  i^  Aio 
de  Janeiro,  h)  captured  the  British  packet 
JVui'ion,  and  took  out  of  he/ li^OtlO  pounds  ster- 
ling, in  specie.  He  arWved  at  Valparaiso  on 
the  14th  March,  1813,  where  he  obtained  a  full 
supply  of  provisions*  He  then  ran  down  along 
the  coast  of  Chili  and  Peru,  fell  in  with  a  Pc* 
ruvian  corsair,  which  had  on  board  2h  Ameri- 
cans, the  crews  of  two  whale  ships  she  had  cap- 
tured  on  the  coast  ^  he  threw  the  guns  and  am- 
munition of  the  corsair  into  the  sea,  liberated 
the  Americans,  and  afterward  re-caiptured  pn^ 
of  the  vessels,  as  she  was  entenng  the  port  of 
liima. 

From  Limu,  capt.  Porter  proceeded  for  the 
Gallipagos  Islanf^.  AVhile  among  this  gronp 
of  tsjands,  he  captured  the  following  British 
ships,  (letters  of  marque)  employed  chiefly  in 
the  Spermacetti  .whale  fishery. 

Tons,  Men,  Guna.JPierced/or. 


Montezeftma 

270 

21 

2 

policy 

175 

26 

10 

18 

Georgiatia 

5280 

25 

6 

18 

Greenwich 

388 

25 

10 

20 

Atlantic 

355 

24 

8 

20 

Bose 

220 

21  ' 

8 

20 

Hector 

270 

25 

11 

20 

Catherine 

270 

29 

8    > 

18 

Seringapatam 

357 

31 

14 

26 

Charlton 

274 

21 

10 

18 

New-Zealander 

259 

23 

8 

18 

Sir  A.  Hammond 

301 

31 

12 

19 

3456  30:^     107 

The  At}aDtlQ  received  the  new  n&m«  of  th« 


.  •('..■-!i'j*% 


m 


lllST<HIT   07  THIS   yfkft. 


^sex-Junior,  yv^n  equipped  ^itli  20  guns^  and 
lier  command  given  to  lieut.  Downs. 

Lieut.  Downs  convojed  some  of  the  prizes  to 
Valparaiso  ;  and  oapt.  Porter,  on  tlie  return  of 
lieut.  Downs,  proceeded  with  the  other  prizes  to 
the  island  of  Nooahcevah,  where  he  overhauled 
his  ship,  took  on  board  a  supply  of  provisions, 
ftnd  sailed  for  the  coast  ofChili^  on  the  t^th 
December,  1813. 

Previous  to  sailing  from  Nooaheevahy  he  se- 
cured his  prizes  under  the  guns  of  a  battery, 
ivhieh  he  erected  for  their  protection,  and  left 
the  battery  in  charge  of  lieut.  Gamble,  and  21 
marines,  with  orders  to  repair  to  V^paraiso, 
after  a  certain  period.  A  friendly  intercourse 
was  established  with  the  natives  ;.  and  the  isl- 
and taken  posisiession  of,  in  th^q^meofthe  Unit- 
ed States.  He  arrived  on  the  coast  of  Chili 
the  12th  January,  ±8±4>, 

The  captain  detailed  his  soecess  in  the  follow 
ing  words :  / 

*<  I  had  completely  broke  up  the  British  naviga- 
tion in  the  Pacific  ;  the  vessels  which  had  not  been 
captured,  were  laid  up  alid  dai^ed  Dot  venture  out. 
The  valuable  whale  fishery  there,  is  entirely  de- 
:^troy«isd,  and  the  actual  injury  we  have  done  them., 
may  be  estimated  at  two  and  a  half  millions  of  dol- 
lars, independent  of  expenses  of  vessels,  in  seareh 
of  me.  They  have- furnished  me  amply  with  sails, 
cordage,  cabjes,  anchors,  provisions,  medicines,  and 
stores  cf  every  descHption  ;  and  the  slops  on  board 
them  have  furnished  clothing  for  the  seamen.  We 
had,  in  fact,  lived  on  the  enemyi  since  \  had  been  in 
that  sea,  every  prize  havitig  proved  ^  well  fouml 
store-ship  for  ine.  I  had  not  been  under  the  neces- 
sity of  drawing  bills  on  the  department  for  any  ob- 
ject, and  had  been  enabled  to  make  coijsiderable  ad- 
vances to  my  officers  and  crew  on  account  of  pay.'* 


■TtTOBT  OV  T^  WAB. 


t65 


After  arriving  at  Valparaiso,  he  found  him- 
self blockaded  by  two  British  ships  ;  the  Phoe« 
be,  com.  Hillyar,  carrying  ao  longlS-pounders, 
16  d2.-pound  carronades,  l  howitzer,  and  6  s- 
pounders  in  the  tops,  and  a  compliment  of  320 
men  ;  and  the  Cherub,  inouitting  28  guns,  and 
having  a  compliment  of  ISO  men  ;  making,  to- 
gether, 81  guns  and  500  men.  The  force  of  the 
Essex  was  46  guns,  40  32-pound  carronades  and 
6  long  12's,  her  crew  amounted  to  255  men. — 
The  JBssex-Junior  mounted  20  gims,  10  18- 
pound  carronades,  and  10  sh(H't  6's^  with  only 
60  men  on  board.  ■  ■    ■    ,. 

Capt.  Porter  having  sought  in  vain  to  bring 
on  an  action  with  any  one  of  the  enemy,  had  re- 
solved on  putting  to  sea,  in  the  hope  of  outsail- 
ing them.  On  the  28th  of  March,  1814, 
during  a  fresh  blow  of  wind,  the  £ssex  parted 
her  larboard  cable,  and  dragged  the  starboard 
SiBchor  directly  to  dea.  Finding  himself  in  this 
situation,  he  hoisted  saiL  aad  got  under  wfiy.— 
On  rounding  a  point  of  land,  a  heavy  squal 
struck  the  ship,  and  carried  away  her  main  top* 
mast,  precipitating  the  men,  who  were  aloft, 
into  the  sea.  Being  chased  by  the  two  enemy's 
ships,  and  unable  to  gain  his  former  anchorage^ 
1^  ran  close  into  a  small  bay,  about  three  quar* 
t«rs  of  a  mile  to  leeward  of  tite  battery,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  harbor,  and  let  go  his  aaehor, 
within  pistol-shot  of  the  shore. 

It  was  in  this  silaation,  that  his  enppled  ship 
and  reduced  crew  were  atta6ked^  in  a  .ueiUrnl 
port,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nations,  .by  two 
ships  of  the  enemy,  llie  Essex  was  carriedv 
bat  a  prize  has  never  been  bought  at  a  deareiv 
rate.  The  aetion  lasted  nearly  two  liours  and 
a  half.    The  Cherub^  from  her  crippled  stated 


sef 


msToiir  or  tbb  wAUk 


was  eompdled  to  haul  off,  but  continued  to  Hre 
at  a  distaneoy  from  her  long  guns.  The  Fhce- 
be,  also,  chose,  aflor  sufteriog  considerably,  to 
fire  from  a  distmtoe  vith  her  long  guns,  vhile 
the  Essex  eould  not  reach  him  \yith  her  carron- 
ades.  There  never  was.  a  ship  more  cut  up 
than  the  Essex,  nor  that  suffered  more  in  men^ 
Seventy  men,  including  officers,  vrere  all  that 
r^iained,  after  the  action,  capable  of  doing  du- 
ty, and  many  of  these  severely  wounded.    ■ 

The  enemy  continued- firing  for  several  mi- 
lutes,  and  killed  and  wounded  many  of  the  crew 
of  the  Essex,  after  her  colors  were  struck,  and 
an  opposite  gun  fired,  to  show  that  resistance 
had  ceased.  Capt.  Porter  conceiving  it  was  in- 
tended to  refuse  quarter,  was  on  the  ^int  of 
hoisting  his  colors,  and  selling  his  life  as  dear 
as  possible,  when  the  fire  of  the  enemy  ceased* 
The  Phiebe  was  so  cut  up,  that  she  Was,  with 
great  difficulty,  worked  into  Valparaiso,  and  it 
seemed  doubtful,  even  after  she  came  to  anchor^ 
whether  she  could  be  repaired  so  as  to  enable 
her  to  double  Cape  Horn.  She  had  eighteen 
12-pound  shot  through  her,  below  hep  wntcr 
line.  Nothing  but  the  smoothness  of  thewut^r 
saved  her  from  sinking.  Had  the  Phoebe  and 
Cherub  dared  to  comO  baldly  into  close  action, 
they  would  have  been  undoubte^y  defeated. — 
The  enemy's  loss  in-  men  cannot  be  ascertained, 
but  must  have  been  very  severe.  That  of  the 
Essex  was— - 

Killedfe^and  have  died  since  of  their  wounds  58 
Severdy.  wounded  -  -  *•       39 

Sligh€y  vfounded  .  .  •       26 

Missing  -  * »  .  -       31 


Totid 


iBit 


BliTOBT  OV  THf  WAB* 


U7 


It  was  agreed  between  capt«  Porter  and  com. 
Hillyary  that  the  Essex-Junior  should  be  disf 
armed,  and  employed  as  a  cartel,  to  bring  eapt. 
Porter  and  his  men  to  the  United  States,  to  be 
there  exchanged  for  an  equal  number  of  British 
prisoners,  of  equal  rank.  On  the  5tli  July,  the 
Essex- Junior  arrived  oif  New- York,  and  was 
overhauled  by  the  British  ship  Saturn.  Capt. 
Porter,  judging  from  the  conduct  of  the  BrJitisli 
officer,  that  he  would  violate  the  terms,  under 
which  the  Essex- Junior  had  sailed,  took  to  his 
boat ;  and,  after  rowing  and  sailing  40  miles^ 
reached  Long-Island. 

The^inter  season*  rendering  it  diffleult  and 
dangerous  for  an  enemy's  fleet  to  remain  on  the 
American  coast,  to  the  northward  of  Yirginia* 
it  was  coiyectured  that  his  blockading  squadron 
would  be  moved  to  the  southward,  nor  was  the 
conjecture  ill  founded.  It  was  his  intention  to 
efiect  something  more  permanently  useful,  than 
the  robbing  of  private  pr<q^rty.  Aj^enerala- 
larm  prevailed  among  the  inhabitants,  partieu^ 
larly  in  the  cities,  along  the  sea-eoast.  It  was 
also  ascertainetl,  that  great  preparations  wero 
making,  and  several  thousand  men  coU#«ted  in* 
the  West-Indies*  widi  the  avowed  intention  of 
invading  some  of  the  southern  states. 

At  4  o*clock,  P.  M.  on  the  15th  September^ 
1814,  FortBowyer,  on  Mobije  point  wan  attack-* 
«d  by  a  superior  British  naval  and  land  forced 
The  naval  force  was  under  command  of  Sir  JI. 
\¥.  Percy,  and  consisted  of  2  ships  from  24  to 
sdjl^uns,  mounting  impound  earronades';  2brig» 
from  16  to  18  guns,  mounting  2i-pdund  qarron*^ 
ades,  and  3  tenders.  The  land  forces  consisted 
of  100  marines,  a  body  of  Indians,  and  a  battery 
of  a  12-pounder  and  howitzer.    The  Ameriean 


:e6» 


III8Tob;t  ot  thb  war. 


effective  force  was  about  120  inen>  of  whom  not 
more  than  90.  were  engaged^ 

At  ^9  P«  M.  the  enemy's  leading  ship,  cailed 
the  Hermes,  havmg  apppoitchea  sufficiently 
near,  the  guns  of  the  battery  opened  on  her ; 
at  ^0  minutes  past  4,  the  engagement  became 
general.  Soon  after  this  time»  the  British  land 
forces  were  put  to  fliglit»  by  discharges  of  grape 
and  cannister^  iVom  a  O-pounder.  At  B,  P,  M. 
the  guns  oi  the  Hermes  were  silenced*  and  she 
drifted  out*  and  grounded  within  600  yards  of 
the  battery,  where  she  continued  to  be  fired  on^ 
until  night.  At.  sun-set,  the  other  vessels  cut 
their  cables,  and  stood  off,  under  a  tremendous 
fire  from  the  battery*  At  a  quarter  past  7,  the* 
Hermes  appeared  to  be  on  fire  j  at  10^  her  bOLt 
gazine  blew  up.  r 

>  It  was  learned,  from  deserters,  that  150  of 
the  crew  of  the  Hermes  were  lost,  that  85  were 
killed  or  wounded  on  board  the  other  ship,  and 
several  on  board  the  other  vessels^  The  Ame- 
rican loss  was  4  killed  and  5  wounded.  Major 
/William  Lawrence  commanded  at  the  fort. 

The  appearance  of  BO  or  60  vessels  of  the 
enemy,  in  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  render- 
ed it  almost  certain,  that  the  city  of  New- Or- 
leans would  be  an  object  of  attack.  The  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy  was  announced,  in  general 
orders,  on  the  14th.  December,  1814,  by  gov. 
Claiborne  ;  and,  on  the  ISth,  gen.  Jackson  re- 
viewed the  mili(la«  preparatory  to  meeting  «tlie 
enemy.  Martial  law  was  declared  on  the  16th. 
The'  woodsmen  from  Louisiana,  Tennesil^, 
Mis^ssippi  Territory,  and  Kentucky^  hastened 
to  the  scene  of  honor  and  of  glory  ;  and  men, 
ef  different  ]ang;iin^e8  and  manners,  prepared  to 
emulate  each  other  in  defence  of  a  commoa 


m-ifi 


HlfTOilT  OF  TUB  WAV. 


$69 


0^unirjr«  aiid  a  liberty  in  whieh  they  alike  par^ 
ticipated* 

On  the  13th  Deeerhber,  the  enemy'ff  floHlla 
gained  the  Pass  Christian,  and  wa»  proceeding, 
evidently*  against  the  U.  S.  gun  vcsBels,  then  at 
anohor  off  bay  St.  Louis.  The  gun- boats  re- 
treated, during  the  night,  to  the  Malhereaux 
Islands,  Lake  Biorgner  wherf  the  wind  and  tide 
foreed  them  to  remain*  At  day-light,  on  the 
15th,  the  enemy  advanced  with  42  heavy  launch- 
es and  gun  barges,  mounting  42  guns,  of  12,  IS 
and  24  calibre*  and  3  light  gigs,  >v^.hl200  mem. 

At  lO  minutes  before  tl,  A.  M.  he  commenc- 
ed an  attack  on  the  flotilla,  consisting  nf  sua- 
boat  No.  5,  5  guns,  36  men,  sailing-master  F er>> 
ris ;  gun-boat  No.  23*  5  guns,  30  men,  licut. 
M*Keever;  gun-boat  No.  156,  5  g^ns,  41  inen> 
lieut.  Jones  ;  gun-boat  No.  162,  5  guns,  35  men, 
lieuf.  Speddcn;  and  gun- boat  No.  163,  3  guns, 
31  men,  sailing-master  Ulrick— total,  23  guiis* 
and  182  men  ;  the  entire  under  command  of 
lieut.  Thos.  Ap.  Cate^y  Jones,  if  boat  156. 

The  sloop  Alligator  (tender)  of  1  4-pounder 
abd  8  men*  nut  .toeing  able  to  joi.«  the  flotilla, 
was  captured*  before  the  aetion  with  the  gun^ 
boats  eommenced.         • 

The  gun-boats  uere  taken  in  siioofiSPion*  and 
each  boat,  when  taken*  added  to  the  enemv's 
line  of  attack.  The  action  continued  iHitilW 
minutes  pant  12*  when  the  last  df  the  gun-boat6 
was  surretidered. 

Considering  the  Immense  disproportion  of  th« 
parties,  the  action  was  sustained,  on  tlie  j^rt  of 
the  Americans,  with  a  skill,  bravery,  aiid  per- 
severance,, unexampled,  even  in  the  most  spirit- 
ed of  the  actions  which  distinguished  tSie  Ame» 
vieaa  seaLieu  in.the  previous  part  of  the  wall 

X2 


-.■!»,. 


^70 


UISl^OBT  OS  THE   WAR. 


Five  small  vessels,  and  a  few  men,  makitainiiig 
a  contest  ^i*  an  hour  and  a  half^  against  a  &>varm 
of  heavy  barges  and  gun-boatSy  which  closed 
and  nearly  surrounded  them»  was  .a  sight  un- 
paralleled in  the  annals  of  naval  heroism.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was 
estim^ated  by  lieut.  Joaes,  to  exceed  SOO,  Among 
whom  were  an  unusual  proportion  of  officers. 

The  capture  of  this  flotilla  gave  to  the  ene- 
tny  a  free  entran«*e  into  lake  Ponchartrain,  ex- 
cept what  resistance  they  might  meet  from  a 
small  liort  commanding  the  passage  of  the  Re- 
golettes. 

The  enemy,  having  gained  the  command  of 
the  lakes,  was  enabled  to  efi*ect  a  passage  to  the 
JViississippi,  at  a  point,  about  9  miles  from  New- 
Orleans.  Gen.  Jackson  advanced  against  him, 
determined  to  attack  him  in  his  iirst  position. 
The  attack  was  made  in  the  night  of  the  23d 
December,  at  half  past  7  o'clock.  It  was  com- 
menced  by  a  fire  from  the  schooner  Caroline, 
which  dropped  down  the  river,  in  order  to  open 
on  the  rear  of  the  camp.  This  was  the  signal 
for  gen.  Coffee  to  fall  on  the  right,  while  gene- 
ral Jackson  attacked  the  left  near  the  river.— 
It  resulted  honorably  to  the  American  arms; 
but  produced  nothing  decisive.  The  enemy's 
force  amounted  to  about  .HOOO  men  ;  that  of  ge- 
]i^)[*a]  jtiiekBon  did  not  exceed  1500.  The  con- 
flict linked  an  hour,  and  was  supported  whh 
great  ftrinness.  Gen.  Jackson  remained  on  the 
field  unti(  4  o'cVock  in  the  morning,  when  lie 
took  jl  new  posKion  two  miles  nearer  the  city; 
having  lost  in  this  affair,  24  killed,  115  wounded, 
and  74)  missing*-— Total  213. 

'I  he  enemy  succeeded,  on  the  27th,  in  liiow- 
&ig  up  the  Caroliiie,  (jh»  being  beamed,)  by 


^  •  ^. 


HUTORV  0V  THB  WAS* 


arc 


Means  of  liol  shot,  from  aland  battei^r  etected*' 
in  the  night.    On  the  ^8th,  he  advanced^  with 
his  ifhole  foreey  against  gen.  JaeliLsony  in  the 
hope  of  driving  hiin  from  his  position,  and  with 
this  view  opened  a  fire  with  bombs  and  roeketsy. 
at  the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile.    The  ene- 
my was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  about  120  men. 
The  Americans  lost  7  killedjand  had  8  wounded; 
On  Sunday  morning,  the  1st  January,  1815, 
the  enemy  had  l»dvanced  within  600  yards  of 
the  American^  breast-works,  under  cover  of 
night  and  a  heavy  fog,  and"  had  erected  the  pre- 
ceding night,  three  dii^rent  batteries,  mounting 
in  all  15  guns^  from  6Vto  32's.      Abovt  eight 
o'clock^  when  the  fdg:cleared  off*  they  commenc- 
ed a  nrost  tremendous  fire  upon  the  Americans^' 
l^ut  it  was  amply  returned  by  them,  and  a  heavy 
cannonading,  was  kept  up^^  without  the  least  in- 
terval on  eithei^  side,  except  that  occasioned  bj 
th^  explosion  of  a  magazine  in  the  rear  of  one 
of  the  American  batteries,  and>  another  maga- 
zine in  the  night,  owing  to  the  enemy's  Con- 
greve  rockets.     By  4  o'cf^ek  in  the  afternoon, 
the  Americans  had  dismounted  all  the  enemy*d 
guns,  except  two.    They  retreated,  during  the 
night,  to  their  strong  hold,  about  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  from  the  Ameriean  «amp.     Twice  did 
the  enemy  attempt  to  storm  and  carry  the  A* 
merican  batteri^Sr  but  were  as  often  repulsed^ 
On  New-Yea>r'8  day,  the  loss  of  the  Americans 
was  11  killed,  and.23  badly  wounded«^    That  of 
the  eneiny,  from  the  accounts  of  twb  prisoners^ 
taken  on  that  day,  and  three  deserters  after«> 
wards,  must  have  been  much  greater. 

According  as  the  woodsmen  arrived  to  the 
aid  of  gen.  Jackson's  army,  they  were  disposed' 
•f  lathe  best  advantag?,  for  the  piur|!09e  a£de»> 


i?* 


372 


ttn^OUY  of  THE  VfAttp 


fenee  ;  but  these  forces  not  being  of  a  very  ef- 
ficient nature*  especially  as  the  men  could  not 
be  all  provided  with  the  necessary  arnis,.  the 
general  eould  not  attempt  any  thing  against  an 
enemy*  who  was  thus  left  to*  pursue*  undisturb- 
ed* his  laborious  i^rations. 

During  the  days  of  theifth  and  7th»  the  enO' 
my  had  been  actively  ein^ldyed  in  making  pre- 
parations fpr  an  attack  on  Jackson's  lines.——- 
l¥ith  infinlro  labour,  they  had  succeeded  On  the 
Bight  of  the  yth,  in  getting,  their  boats  across- 
from  the  lake  to  the  river,  by  widening  and 
deepening  the  canal,  on  which  they  had  effected 
their  disembarkation. 

^  pen.  Jackson  was  on  the  left  side  of  the  river, 
patiently  waiting  the  attack.  Gen.  Morgan, 
with  the  New-Di'leans  contingent ;  the  Louisi- 
ana militia  and  a  detachment  of-  Kentucky 
troops,  occupied  an  ei^trencbed  camp  on  the  op<^ 
posite  side  of  the  river,  protected  by  strong  bat- 
teries on  the  bank,  superintended  by  cou)mo<» 
dore  Patterson. 

On  Sunday,  the  8th,  at  6  1-2  o'clock.  A,  M; 
the  enemy  b^gan  a  very  h<:;avy  cannonade  upon 
the  American  lines  ft*om  his  batteries  of  18  and 
12-pounders*  supported  by  the  musketry  of  2,d00 
nien«  who  marched  in  close  columns,  and  ad* 
Yanced  nearer  than  musket  shot  distance  to  the 
entren^ments,  armed  with  rockets,  obuses  and 
facines,  to  storm  the  batteries  ;  they  directed 
their  5  rincipal  attack  against  the  head  of  the 
lifie,  4/  i  J^*  <f  hy  the  river,  and  upon  the  left  rest- 
ing upon  itt  dpn-ess  swamp,  as  well  as  against 
the  iirjvlL'ti^t  anti  riflemenf  placed  above  the 
«aki  rya«'»p  ?  iIn  r:>4..riBg  >Vthe  guns  and  firing 
of  the  kiiisk-etf/^  lasted  two  hours  and  a  quar- 
ter, tiisi  ^k  :^'\y'p  martain^,  although  direeted  a- 


HISTORY  07  THE  WAE. 


273 


gainst  the  centre^  did-  no  harm  to  the  troops, 
the'burstiiig  of  their  bomi  a  in  the  works  was  of 
BO  efi%ct<  Two  British  officers  and  one  Frencli 
engineer,  of  the  name  of  iSennie,  who  had  gain- 
ed the  sammit  of  the  Anierif^an  para|^t»  fsee 
WrontispieceJ  were  kiiled,  wounded  or  made 
prisoners,  (the  engineer  and  one  colonel  was 
kiUed)  ;  after  this  terrible  affair,  the  field,  in 
front  of  the  works,  was  strewed  with  British 
wounded  and  killed. 

Gen.  Jackson  thus  briefly  details  the  particia- 
lars  of  attack. 

(<In  my  encampment  every  thing  was  re  dy  fpr  ac- 
tion; when  earty  on  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  ene*^ 
my,  aftel"  throwing  a  shower  of  bombs  and  C  :)ngreve 
rockets,  advanced  their  columns,  at  my  right  and 
left)  to  storm  my  entrenchments.  I  cannot  speak 
sufficiently  in  praise  of  the  firmness  and  deliberation 
with  which  my  whole  line  received,  their  approach. 
More  could  not  have  been  expected  from  Veterans, 
inured  to  war.  For  an  hour,  the  fii^e  of  small  arms 
was  as  incessant  and  severe  as  can  be  imagined.— 
The  artillery,  too,  directed  by  officers  who  display- 
ed equal  skill  and  courage,  did  great  execution.— 
Yet  the  coluinr*s  of  the  enemy  continued  to  advance 
with  a  firmness,  which  reflects  upon  them  the  great- 
est credit.  Twice,  the  column,  which  approached 
me  on  my  left,  was  repulsed  by  the  troops  of  gen. 
Carroll,  those  of  gen.  Coffee,  and  a  division  of  the 
Kentucky  militia,  and  twice  they  formed  again,  and 
renewed  the  assault.  At  length,  however,  cut  to 
pieces,  they  fled  in  confusion  from  the  field,  leaving 
it  covered  with  their  dead  and  wounded.** 

Simultaneously  with  the  attrick  on  gen.  Jack- 
son's lines,  an  attack  was  made  on  the  works  of 
gen.  Morgan.  Had  the  enemy  been  met  with 
resolution  in  this  attack*  it  must  have  produced. 
hiPenUpe  destruction  y  but,  unfortunately,  the 


p 


«r4i 


HISTOBT  OF  THE  VfAVt* 


Eenttioky  reiafbrcjements  inj^loriously  fled,  draw-' 
log  ftfller  them^bj^  their  exaniple^  the  remainder : 
of  the  forees»  and  leaving  the  batteries  to  the  e- 
lieniy ;  not,  ho>ever>  until  after  the  guns  were 
spiked. .  While  general  Jaekson  was  preparing 
to  dislodge  the  eneooy  from  the  captured  batte- 
ry, the  British  troops  Were  withdrawn^  and  the 
post  re-ocoupied  l^  <h6  Americans. 

The  return  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and  priso- 
ners, taken,  at  the  battle  of  Mae  Prardies  plan-^ 
taiiim,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  on 
the  morning  of  the  Sth^  January,  1^15,  and  five; 
miles  below  the  city  of  New-Orleans,  consisted 
of— -killed,  700 ;  wounded^  1^00 ;  prisoners,  500} 
-t^total  2600,  ^. 

Among  the  slain,  were  general  Sir  Edward 
Pakenham,  the' chief,  and  gen.  Gibbs,the  third 
in  command ;  gen.  Keane,  the*  second  in  oom- 
mand,  was  severely  wounded.  Gen.  Lambert 
succeeded  to  the  commanil. 

His  total  loss,  in  the  different  engagements^ 
was  not  probably  less  than  3,500  ;  and  was,  by 
many,  supposed  to  exceed  ^,000,  Tlie  loss  to. 
the  Amerieans,  on  the  8ih,  on  both  sides  of  the 
river,  was  13  killed, 39  wounded, and  t9 missing; 
total  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  this  day  71 :, 
of  this  number  there  were  but  6  killed,  and  7^; 
wounded,  in  the  action  of  the  line. 

The  enemy  intended  to  pass  Fort  Philip,  in 
order  to  co-operate  with  the  land  forces  in  the 
attack  on  New-Orleans.  On  the  9th  January, 
at  half  past  3  P.  M.  the  enemy's  bomb-vessels 
opened  their  fire  against  the  fort*  from  4  sea- 
mortars,  2  of  them  13  inches,  and  2  of  10,  at  so 
great  a  distance  that  the  shot  from  the  fort 
coukl  not  I'cach  him.  The  enemy's  fire  contin- 
ued with  little  intermission,  and  with  liMle  fb- 


HISTOBT  OF  TBS  WAR* 


S7-d 


terrapi|on  from  the  fort,  during  the  IDth,  llth» 
12th,  13(h,  14th,  15th,  16th  and  17th.  On  the 
evening  of  the  17th,  a  heavy  mottar  was  got  in 
readiness,  and  opened  on  tlie  enemy,  ivith  great 
effect.  At  day-light,  on  the  18th,  the  enemy  re- 
tired, after  having  thrown  upwards  of  UOO  heaVy 
shells,  besides  small  shells^  from  the  howitzers^ 
round  shot  and  grape,  which  he  discharged  from 
boats,  under  cover-  of  the  night.  Scarcely  ten 
feet  of  the  garrison  remained  untouched;  yet 
the  loss  of  men  was  small,  consisting  of  2  killed 
and  7  wounded.  This  saving  of  men  was  ow- 
ing jto  the  great  pains  taken  by  the  officers  to 
keep  their  men  under  cover. 

All  the  enemy's  movements,  after  the  aotion 
of  the  8th  of  January,  were  calculated  to  secure 
his  retreat,  should  suoh  prove  neeessary,  as  ap- 
pearances then  indicated  that  it  would.  Their 
intention  was,  however,  masked  by  a  menacing 
attitude,  as  if  preparing  fop  a  renewal  of  the  at- 
tack on  Jackson's  line.  They  had  erected  bat- 
teries to  cover  their  retreat,  in  advantageous  po- 
sitions, from  their  original  encampment  to  the 
Bayou  through  whieh  they  entered  lake  Bourg- 
ne.  ITie  cannon  placed  on  these  batteries  could 
have  raked  a  pursuing  army  in  every  direction. 
The  situation  of  the  ground,  through  which  they 
retired,  was  protected  by  canals,  redoubts,  en- 
trenchments, and  swamps,  on  the  right ;  and  the 
river  on  the  left. 

In  this  state  of  things,  Jackson  had  on  oppor* 
tunity  of  showing  his  prudence,  as  he  before 
proved  his  courage,  aad,  by  uniting  both  quali- 
ties, perfected  the  general.  Since  the  action  of 
the  8th,  the  artillery,  on  both  sidfes  of  the  river, 
was  coUstantly  employed  in  annoying  the  ene- 
my.   An  attempt  to  storm  his  batteries  would 


■'«» 


sre 


mSTOBT  OF  Tgfc  H^ll. 


•^ 


have  produced  great  slaughter  among  the  Ame- 
rieanst  heen  doubtful  ot  success,  and  might  pos- 
sib^  have  induced  the  enemy  to  delay  his  depar- 
ture. It  was  therefore  resolved  by  gen.  Jack- 
son to  secure  the  advantage  obtained^  with  the 
least  possible  loss  or  hazara. 

All  hops  which  the  enemy  had  of  reducing 
fori  Philips  had  vanished;  and  on  the  ni^^ht  of 
the  18th,  tbi'j  precipitately  (leeamppd»  and,' re- 
turned to  their  shipping;  leaving  behind  them 
80  of  their  wounded,  14  pieces  of  heavy  artille- 
ry, and  an  immense  number  of  ball,  having  de- 
stroyed much  of  their  powder. 

Mr.  Shields,  purser  in  the  navy,  wrote  letters 
on  tlie  16th  and  17th  of  Jansiary,  to  Mr.  Niles, 
of  f^altimore,  containing  much  information^ 
fron.  which  the  following  is  extracted  : 

<*  The  day  after  the  gun-boats  were  taken  I  was 
sent  down  under  a  flas;  of  truce,  to  ascertain  the  fate 
of  our  officers  imd  men,  with  power  to  negociate  an 
exchange^  espt^ ;  \lly  for  the  wounded.  But  the  en- 
emy would  make  no  terms— 'they  treated  the  flag 
with  contempt,  and  myself  and  the  surgeon,  who 
was  with  me,  as  prisoners,  until  the  1 8th  mst.  He 
has  now  lowered  his  tone,  and  begs  the  exchange 
that  we  offered.  Defeat  has  humbled  the  arrogance 
of  the  enemy,  who  had  firomiaed  his  soldier*  J^orty' 
eight  hours  fiiUage  and  rafiine  qf  tie  City  qf  AVw- 
Orleans  ! 


tt> 


On  the  authority  of  judge  Poindexter,  it  is 
stated,  that  « the  watch-word  and  countersign 
of  the  enemy  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  was 
BEAUTY  and  BOOTY.  Comment  is  unneces- 
sary on  these  stgnificant  allusions  held  out  to  a 
licentious  soldiery.  Had  vietory  declared  on 
their  side,  the  scenes  of  Havre  de  Grace,  of 
Hampton^  of  Alexaadrisii  and  of  St.  Sebastiaus, 


.''■m 


ttlSTORT  OF  THE  WAV. 


%r7 


^ould,  without  doubt,  have  been  re- acted  at  N. 
Orleans,  with  all  the  unfeeling  and  brutal  inhu* 
inanity  of  the  savage  foe  with  whom  we  are 
contending/' 

Thus  ended,  in  disgrace  and  discomfiture  to 
the  enemy,  an  expedition  which  occupied  seve- 
ral months  in  its  preparation,  and  was  compos- 
ed of  at  least  10,000  troops,  drawn  from  al- 
most every  part  of  the  world,  where  the  Bri- 
tish had  garrisons  or  soldiers.  Nothing  was 
left  undone  to  secure  the  occupation  of  an  im- 
mense province,  and  the  command  of  a  river  ex- 
t«nding  thousands  of  miles  through  the  most 
fertile  countries  in  the  world  ;  and  on  which  se'> 
vcral  of  the  United  States  depended  as  an  out- 
let and  market  for  their  produce. 

That  a  permanent  occupation  of  New-  Orleans 
and  the  state  of  Louisiana,  was  intended,  can 
scarcely  be  doubted.  The  fact  that  revenue 
and  other  civil  ofiicers,  to  reside  at  New-Or- 
leans, were  on  board  the  fleet,  is  a  sufficient 
evidence  of  this  fact,  ab  well  as  it  is  of  the  cer- 
tainty with  which  victory  was  counted  on  ;  nor 
is  this  rendered  doubtful,  by  the  circumstance, 
that  the  battle  was  fought  after  the  treaty  Of 
peace  was  ratified  by  the  BiMtish  goveniment. 
The  expedition  against  New- Orleans  was  plan- 
ned long  before  the  signing  of  peaee,  and  at  a 
time  when  the  wavering  and  quibbling  jwlicy  of 
England  induced  the  Auierit-an  comniissioners 
at  Ghent,  to  write  to  their  government,  ••  that 
no  hopes  of  peace,  as  likefy  to  result  from  it^ 
(the  negotiation)  could  be  f-ntertained/' 

From  an  official  accouM,  it  appeared,  that 
the  number  of  men  under  eonimand  of  general 
■Jackson,  and  actually  engaged  aga'mst  the  ene- 
my, on  the  8th  January,   ainoiinted  to  +,698. — 


■^  •*'^      *;r,.iw^ 


iB78 


mSTOBT  OT  TBE   WAB. 


The  enemy's  force*  by  his  ownacoount^  exceed* 
ed  lOyOOO. 

By  an  article  in  a  Jamaica  paper?  of  the  3d 
December,  it  was  stated,  that  the  expedition 
then  prepared  to  go  against  the  United  States, 
lender  command  of  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane  and 
maj.  gen.  Keane  (the  same  that  afterwards  en- 
tered the  Mississippi)  consisted  of  1  ship  of  80 
guns,  5  of  74,  2  of  50,  1  of  44,  6  of  38,  2  of  36, 
3  of  32,  3  of  16,  %  of  14,  and  3  of  6  gu. is— Total 
28  ;  carrying  1084  guns,  besides  a  great  num- 
ber of  cutters,  transports,  &c. 

Several  desperate  characters,  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  as  well  as  foreigners,  natives  of 
different  countries,  had  associated  themselves 
injto  a  band  of  pirates,  under  the  chief  Lafitte, 
and  had  taken  up  their  residence  in  the  island 
of  Barritaria,  neai  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. The  government  of  the  United  States 
caused  this  unlawful  establishment  to  be  broken 
up.  The  expedition  against  the  Barritarians, 
took  possession  of  all  the  piratical  vessels,  their 
prizes,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  arms  and 
property,  without  opposition,  on  the  16th  Sep-^ 
tember,  1814.  The  vessels,  thus  taken,  con- 
sisted of  6  schooners  'and  one  felucca,  cruisers 
and  prizes  of  the  pirates,  one  brig,  a  prize,  and 
:^  armed  schooners,  both  in  line  of  battle  witk 
the  armed  vessels  of  the  pirates.  The  estab- 
lishment on  shore,  which  was  also  taken  posses-^ 
sion  of,  consisted  of  about  40  houses.  The  pi- 
rates had  mounted  on  their  vessels  20  pieces  of 
cannon,  of  different  calibres,  and  their  number 
consisted  of  between  800  and  1000  men  of  all 
nations  and  colors.  The  expedition  against  the 
pirates  was  under  command  of  com.  Patterson, 
of  the  navy,  having  on  board  a  detachment  of 
land  troops>  under  Gommand  of  eol.  Boss. 


i^ 


BISTOST  OF  THE  WAH, 


279 


The  Barritarian  pirates  took  part  in  the  de- 
fence of  New-Orleans,  against  the  British^  and 
were  both  active  and  serviceable.  It  was,  also, 
satisfactorily  ascertained^  that  they  had,  previ- 
ous to  their  dispersion,  refused  an  alliance  with 
the  British,  rejecting  the  most  seducing  terms 
of  invitation.  Indaced,  hy  these  considerations, 
and  at  the  recommendation  of  the  general  as- 
sembly of  the  state  of  Louisiana,  the  President 
of  the  United  States  granted  to  such  of  them 
as  aided  in  defence  of  New-Orleans,  a  full  par- 
don for  all  offences  against  the  laws  of  the  Unit- 
ed States,  eommitted  previous  to  the  Sth  Janu- 
ary, 1815. 

The  enemy  after  being  defeated  near  New- 
Orleans,  turned  his  attention  to  the  state  of 
Georgia;  and,  from  appearances,  intended  a 
visit  to  Savannah.  The  unprepared  state  of 
Georgia,  and  the  dreadful  character  of  the  en- 
emy,.causcd  a  great  alarm  among  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  state. 

On  the  11th  January^  1815,  the  enemy,  ta 
the  number  of  1500  or  2000  men,  efiected  a 
landing  on  Cumberlaiid  island.  On  the  ISth^ 
Point- Petre  was  carried  by  storm  ;  and,  on  the 
following  d^^,  St.  Mary's  capitulated,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  flag  sent  from  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town.  The  enemy  evacuated  Point-Petre 
and  St.  Mary's  the  2ist  January,  after  burning 
the  barracks  and  blowing  up  the  fort.  Had  tho 
eneujy  attempted  Savannah,  he  would  have  met 
a  reception  similar  to  that  experienced  at  New- 
Orleans.  No  people  ever  turned  out  more  gen- 
erally, or  with  more  alacrity,  than  the  men  of 
Georgia.  The  militia,  in  every  part  of  the 
atiite,  were  in  motion,  when  the  news  of  peace 
and  retreat  of  the  enemy,- reached  them.  Svhile 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


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inSTOST   09  TBE   WAX. 


'i» 


Ifae  eDemy  was  inarching  a^inst  Point  Petre^. 
«apt.  Massias,  of  the  l»t  U.  8.  rifle  eorps,  at  the 
Iiea4  of  60'nieiif  attempited  to  oppose  1000,  com*- 
mitted  considerable  havoc  among  the  enemy^ 
and  retreatedy  with  the  loss  of  1  killed^  4  wound- 
ed^ and  9  missing. 

The  forti>ess  of  Mobile,  within  the  limits  of 
the  purohase' of  Louisiana,  had  beenritainedhj 
the  Spaniards,  notwithstanding  it»  purchase  by 
the  United  States.  The  war  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  rendered  it  ne- 
oessary  to  occupy  thi«^  place^  leit  it  should  fall 
into  the  posesssion  of  the  enemy.  On  the  15th 
A|^l,  181S,  general  Wilkinson  appeared  before 
jit»  «  thehead  of  a  respectable  forces  when^ 
Ihog^rrison  being  summoned  to  surrendei»ii  tho 
Spani^  troops  were  immediately  embarked  for 
Pensacola ;  and  Mobile  taken  possession^  of  by 
the  tTnitecl  States' troops,. 

Pensacola,  alth€|^gh  a  Spanish  post^  was  not 
properly  entitled  to4he  character  of  nlutral.-^ 
The  conduct  of  fthe  Spanish  goYcrnor^  left  no 
doubt  aSito  his  attachment  io  the  British,  and 
Ma  hostile  disposition  toward  the  fJuked  States. 
'  Pens^  eola  was  an  asylum  for  h||pe  Indians*; 
at  Pensacola^  they  were  armed,  pi^^isioned  and 
paid.  Pensacola  was  a  depot  Of  British  arms, 
a  home  for  traitors  to  the  United  States^  and  a 
a  place  of  rendezvous  for  every  ally  of  the  ene- 
my, whether  white,  black  or  red. 

As  soon  as  the  war  in  Europe  wa«  likely  to 
end,  and  Britain  at  liberty  to  direct  lier  whole 
foree  against  the  United  States,  the  understand- 
ing with  the  governor  of  Florida,  became  less, 
masked,  and  the  British  officers  boldly  dated 
their  public  acts  from  «  Eead'((uavUraf  Fm-- 


■'*'■ 


VISTti^T  OY  TOE  WA^. 


.  If  wa8>  under  these  ciroumstances,  fletennin- 
fid  to  attack  the  BHti^h  at  their  head-quarters,- 
.and  to  storin  tiiie  town,  although  defended  hj 
/Strong  battanesy  ai^d  supported  hy  7  armed^ 
British  vessels  in  the  bay.  On  the  rthNovem- 
jler,  1814>  the  attack  >¥as  made,  under  the  com- 
,HiaQd  and  direction  of  gen.  Jackson.  The  fol- 
lowing  jinimated  report  of  the  assault,  was  made 
hy  general  Jackson,  in  a  letter  to  governor 
Earl.vr 

/  **l  entered  sword  in  hand,  with  about  3000  brave 
followers)  in  the  face  of  Spanish  batteries,  and  a 
British  fleet  of  7  sail,  anchored  abreast  and  opposite 
.Ibe  town.  The  English,  by  intrigue  and  base  false- 
^.faood,  induced  tlie  Spaniards  to  aoandon  the  works 
commanding  the  harbor,  entered  them  and  blew 
them  up,  otherwise  they  urould  have  fallen  a  sacri- 
fice to  their  own  plans.  When  this  took  place,  the 
fleet  being  at  liberty  to  go  out,  did  so ;  and  1  evaicu? 
ated  the  town,  leaving  the  Spaniards  favorafilf  im- 
pressed with  our  conduct,  and  disgusted  with  their 
British  feends/''  * 

Fort  Bowyer  was  closely  besieged  by^  land^ 
ami  water,  on  the  8th  February>  1815,  by  a  Ve- 
ry large  fotrce  of  the  enemy.      The  garrison 
consisted  of  360  men,  inelii(Hng.  offfeers^  com- 
manded by  lieut^  col.  W.' Lawrence.    The  enc-- 
my  advanced  by  regular  approachesy  Undwas' 
withvn  certain  musket  shdt  of^  the  parapets  of 
the  fort  on  the  land  side,.when  the  garrison  was 
surrendered^  on  the  Iteth,  byciipitu'lation.^— p-- 
There  werebut  few  lives  lost  oni^either  side. 

On  the  24th  February j  6  barges  of  the  enemy 
proceeded  up  the  river  St.  Mary's,  with  a  view 
to  burn  the  mills  belonging  to  Mv.  A.  Clark. — 
They  were  opposed  by  a  few  patriots  from  the- 
I^lorida  shore,  when  the  boats  tacked  about'  to^ 


i982 


||ii(TOBT  or  Tttt.WAm 


retreat ;  at  (fhis  mometit,  about  SO  men  attaefe- 
ed  them  from  all  amiiitsh  on  the  opposite  shore; 
The  enem^  was  thus'p)aei*d  between  two  fires> 
which  ^ntinued.to  gall  him  until  he  feaebed  » 
part  of  the  riVer,  where,  bjr  keeping  the  eentre^ 
lie  Was  beyond  the  reach  of  the  fire  from  both 
ihores.  The  enemy  lost  upwards  of  100  men^ 
The  Ani^icans  had  only  one  man  woandied. 

The  v.  Si#hip  President,  com.  Decatur,  saSI- 
ed  on  a  cruise  from  New-York,  the  14th  Janu- 
ary, 181  ft.  The  ship,  in  going  over  the  barr 
grounded,  and  sutfered  so  much  in  eonsequencey 
as  evidently  to  affect  her  sailing  ;  and  was  th» 
cause  of  her  subsequent  capture,  by  a  supetror 
loree  of  the  enemy*  At  6  A.  M.  on  the  IBth, 
the  Ertesident  fell  in  with  the  enemy's  squa^on^ 
f  onsisting  of  the  Majestic,  razee  ;.  Endymiouy, 
jPomone,  Tenedos,  and  Despatch  brig.  The 
iniury  done  to  the  Piiesident,  when  she  ground- 
ed off  the  Hook,  prevented  her  outsailing  tlie 
enemy's  fleet.  The,  Endymion  (moUltting  50' 
guns^  ^4-poundeP89  on  the  main  deck)  having  ap- 
proached within  gun-shot,  commenced  a  firing: 
at  d'P.  M.  more  with  a  view  to  delay  than  to 
try  strength,  with  the  President*  The  latter^ 
bowever,  was  enabled  to  bring  her  guns  so  far 
to  bear,  as  to  sifenee  the  Endymion,  and  to  put 
her*  by  &  a'cloek,  fuUy  out  of  combat,  so  much: 
crippled  that.f^e  onuld^  v'ith  great  difficurty,  be 
worked  or  kept  afloat.  The  near  approach  of 
^e  other  »liip8^  obliged  the  President  to  aban^ 
do«  a  vessel,  that  must,  if  not  mipported  by  her 
consorts,  have  surrendered.  The  PomonC  and' 
*[%nedos,  came  up  and  engaged  the  President  at 
tiie  same  time,  the  Majestic  being  also  within 
gun-shot.  It  being  useless,  and  imprudent,  to- 
engage  sc^  overpowering  a  foroe>  ccm*  Decatur- 


■  M       ' 
BISTOBT  OF  THS  WAB.  2^ 

Mmttk  his  Aag  ;  and  went  on  board  tbe  Maje»- 
'  tie,  where  he  delivered  his  sword  to  capt.  Hays, 
the  senior  offieer  of  the  squadron,  who  politely 
returned  it.  The  written  parole  granted  to 
eom.  Deeatur,  specified  his  having  surrendered 
the  President  to  a  British  squadron ;  thus  si- 
leneing  those  who  wished  to  have  it  understood^ 
that  the  eommodore  struck  bis  flag Mto  a  singli 
lihip.  The  prize-money,  arising  from  the  cap** 
lure  of  the  President,  was  divid«id  among  the 
eipews  of  the  squadron,  by  which  she  was  cap> 
tailed. 

'The  loss  on  board  the  enemy /could  notbeas^- 
eertained  ;  that  of  the  President  consisted  oT 
i{4*  killed,  and  60  wounded.  Among  the  killed 
were  lieutenants  Babbit,  Hamilton  and  HowelK 
The  U.  S.  frigate  Constitution,  capt.  Stewart^ 
sailed  from  Boston,  tn  December,  dCM4.  When 
o6r  Madeira,  on  the  evening  of  the  20th  Februa- 
ry, 1815,  she  fell  in  with  hts  Britannic  majesty's 
ships  Cyane  and  Levant,  whieh  she  captured^ 
i^er  an  aetion  of  40  mimitesv 
'  The  Cyane  is  a  frigate  built  ship,  mounting* 
34  carriage  gnns^  viss.  ^2  32-ponnd  carronades 
on  the  gun-deck,  8  32-pound  carronades  on  the 
quarter-deek,  2  18-pound  carronades,  and  2: 
long  9's,  on  the  forecastle,  with  a  eompliment 
of  17&  men.  The  Levant  mounted  21  earrtage> 
guns,  viz.  18  24-iMHind  carronad'es,  2  long  9*9^ 
and  a  shifting  12-pouader,  oh  the  top-gallant 
forecastle,  with  a  compleaient  of  f  50  men.-"—* 
The  enemy^s  vessels  sirfl^red  severely  hn  spar?^ 
rigging  and  sails.  The  Constitution  received 
little  injuiy,  having  but  4  men  killed  and  10 
wounded.  The  Cyane  had  7  killed,  and  17 
wounded  ;  the  Levant,  9  kHIed  and  1 7  wounded. 
^Oo  the  12tii  Mtirch^  the  Constitution  tind  her 


S9ii 


KISTOKT  or  laS  WitSr 


j^rizes,  fell  ia  with  three  British  frigates.  Th^ 
IrigateB  kept  iogefimrf  in  ebase  ef  the  Constita- 
lion,  lest,  l^  separating,  they  might  be  eaptur- 
jtd  in  meeesshn.  The  ConstitutiM  outsailed 
and  eseaped  the  enemy't  squadron ;  the  Gyane 
Arrived  at  New- York  f  and  the  Levant  was  at- 
tacked and  taken  bj  the  firillsh  squadron,  in 
the  harbor  of  Porto  Praya,  in  the  island  of  St. 
Jaeo,  in  violation  of  the  neutrality  of  the  port^ 
l^nd  «)ontrary  't0  the  laws  of  nations.  The  Cour 
atitution  arrived  safely  in  the  United  States. 

On  the  19th  July,  1813,  the  U.  S.  brig  of  war 
Syren,  of  16  guns,  was  eaptured,  after  a  chase 
of  11  hours,  by  his  Britannie  majesty's  frigate- 
Med  way.  During  the  ehase,  the  Syren  thr^w 
.overboard  all  her  guns,  boats,  aoohors,  eablef^ 
And  spiars.   • 

On  the  25th  May,  18#^,  the  president  of  the 
IJnited  States  infermed  congress,  that  his  ma^ 
jeety  the  emperor  of  Russia,  had  offered  hi% 
mediation,  in  orde:?  to- faeilitato  a  peace  between 
Great-Britain  and  the  United  States,  that  tfao 
oflRsr  was  accepted  by  tike  president,  and  that 
;||iree. citizens  had beeii  ooii|ii|issioned  to  treait 
necordingly. 

On  the  meetings  of  congress  in;  Pecember  fol^ 
lowing,  the  president,  in  his  message  to  both 
liouses,  informed  them,  that  Great-Britaki  ha4 
.declined  nc^otiatiiig  under  the  inediatioa  o^ 
Bussia.  ^ 

.  Notwithstanding  this  refusl^l  of  the  9ritislt> 
4(0vernment  to  ae^eptthe  ftussjian  mediation-r 
the  British  ambassador,  at  the  court  uf  St^  Pe- 
tersburg, direoted^a  letter,  in  September,  to  the- 
Russian  government*  intimating  a  desire  to^ 
treat  immwUateljf  wlth^tho  Anierleaii  plen^j^ 


w 


HI9T0BT  OV  THK  VTMR, 


»9I^ 


Lorii)  fastlereaghy  jiecretary  of  state  to  hig 
Britannic  majesty,  enclosed  a  copy  of  the  above 
note,  in  a  letter  of  the  4th  November,  to  the 
secretary  i>f  state  of  the  United  States,  at  the 
city  of  Washington,  proposing  that  the  two  go- 
vernments would  enter  into  direct  negotiation, 
for  a  termination  of  the  war,  on  terms  that 
would  be  mutually  advantageous  ;  and  that  the 
negotiations  would  be  entered  into  at  Gotten- 
burg  or  London.  The  proposition  was  prompt- 
ly acceded  to  by  the  American  government,  iix- 
ing  on  Gottenburg  as  the  place  of  negotiation. 

The  senate  confirmed,  on  the  19th  January^ 
1814,  the  nomination*  by  the  president,  of  John 
Quincy  Adams,  James  A.  Bayard,  Henry  Clay 
and  Jonathan  Russell,  as  ministers  to  treat  for 
peace  with  British  commissioners  at  Gotten- 
burg. It  was  afterward  agreed,  that  the  trea- 
ty should  be  held  at  Ghent. 

So  indecisive  and  equivocating  was  the  con- 
duct of  British  ministers,  that  many  persons 
doubted  whether  any  commissioners  would  be 
appointed  on  the  part  of  Britain  ;  and,  when 
appointed,  it  was  pretty  generally  believed  that 
the  appointment  was  merely  pro/orma,  without 
any  intention  to  agree  to  reasonable  terms  of 
peace. 

The  British  government  appointed,  as  their 
commissioners.  Lord  Gambler,  Henry  Goul- 
burn,  Esq.  and  Williams  Adams,  Esq.  These 
personages  arrived  at  Ghent,  the  6th  August. 

At  the  first  meeting  with  the  American  com- 
missioners* terms  were  offered  on  the  part  of 
£ngland,  so  degrading  and  offensive  to  the 
United  States,  that  it  was  impossible  to  accept 
them  ;  and,  as  some  of  them  were  ofil'red  in  the 
form  of  a  sine  qua  nonn  there  remained,  not  % 
hope  of  a  speedy  negotiation  to  hostilities^ 


saa 


uumet  oy  tbb  wait. 


The  newsy  when  arrivQd  lo  theUnite<l  States^ 
roused  at  onee  the  pride  and  the  energy  of  the 
nation ;  and  prodneed  an  union  of  aentimenty 
that  presaged  future  glory  and  success. 

It  was  now  evident,  that  the  negotiations  at 
Ghent,  hung  on  those  then  pending  before  a 
eongress  of  the  ministers  of  several  potentates, 
assembled  at  Tienna^  for  settling  a  general  peace 
in  Europe^ 

It  is  easy  to  eoneeive,  that  the  task  to  be  per- 
formed by  the  eongress  at  Vienna,  was  difficult. 
"Wrapped  up  in  state  seereey,  and  influenced  by 
state  intrigues,  the  eourse  of  negotiation  at  Yi- 
enna,  was,  in  a  great  degree,  withheld  from  tha 
puUio  eye.  The  eentlnued  armaments  of  Eu- 
ropean powers,  and  the  military  parade  with 
whieh'  the  Duke  of  Wellington  appeared  in 
Belgium,  even  before  the  emperor  of  Elba  ceas- 
ed tolie  a  pensioner  of  Louis  XYlIIth,  led  to 
the  suspioion*  that  the  rights  of  European  sove- 
reigns must  be  settled,  by  a  aew  effusion  of  the 
blooii  of  their  subjects. 

Whatever  motive  may  have  influenced  the 
British  government,  |t  U  certain,  that  a  very 
sudden  change  of  tone  was  produeed  on  their 
part.  The  consequence  was,  that  a  treaty  of 
peace,  between  Great- Britain  and  the  United 
States,  was  signed  by  the  commissioners  of  the 
respective  powers,  at  Ghent,  the  24th  Decern* 
Jber,  18t4,  ratified  at  liondon  the  28th  of  the 
same  month,  and  ratified  at  the  city  of  Wash>> 
4ngton,  on  the  17th  February,  1815. 

On  the  18th  February,  181  A,  the  President  of 
the  United  States  caused  a  proelamation  to  be 
published,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  ; 
together  with  the  treaty  of  p<aee* 


To  Mat 

OtLMt 

WHEl 
{Hates  of 
on  the  tw4 
and  foarttf 
purimse ; 
and  consc 
ed,  and  co 
sand  eightl 
been  excbi 
in  the  wwl 

Treaty  t 

Hit  Brit 
oftermioa 
twocountr 
peace,  frie 
that  parpo 
say  :  his  I 
Dorable  Ja 
of  the  red 
a  member 
and  Willia 
dent  of  the 
Senate  the 
ard,  Henri 
the  Unitec 
respective : 

There  si 

m^esty  ai 

tries,  terri 

exception  < 

shall  ceasi 

parties,  as 

sesnons  w 

the  war,  o 

cepting  on 

without  d< 

way  any  < 

in  the  8ai< 

exchange 

private  pi 

either  of] 

the  courst 

c^  either 

stored  an 

Wief  resp 


:■-.:  :J^ 


aXSTOKY  09  TBB  tTlS. 


f&7 


JAMES  MADISON, 

fniADBNT  or  TBI  UNITED  ITATM  09  AMIRtCA, 

To  M  and  nngular  (o  wAom  IAmc  prtttmU  $kaU  eamtf 

0IIIITI90, 

WHERBAS  a  treaty  of  peace  and  amity  between  the  United, 
tftates  of  America,  and  bis  Britannic  mt^esty,  w^s  aigned.at  Ghent, 
on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  December,  one  thougand  eight  hundred 
and  fourteen,  bv  the  plenipotentiaries  respectively  appointed  for  that 
purimse ;  and  tne  said  treaty  having  been,  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consented  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  duly  accepted,  ratifi* 
ed,  and  confirmed,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  February,  one  thou- 
sand ei)ibt  hundred  and  fifteen ;  and  ratified  copies  thereof  having 
been  exchanged  agreeably  lo  the  tenor  of  the  said  treaty,  which  is 
in  the  WfYi's  following,  to  wit , 

Treaty  qfptau  and  amtfy  teMem  his  Britaimc  majtstji  ctnd  the 
United  Statet  qf  America. 

His  Britannic  msgesty  and  tlie  United  Slates  of  America,  desirooi 
ofterraiaatingthe  war  which  has  unhappily  iubsisted  between  the 
two  countries,  and  of  restoring,  upon  principle*  of  perfect  reciprocity, 
peace,  friendship,  and  good  understanding  between  them,  have,  for 
that  purpose,  appointed  their  respective  plenipotentiaries,  that  is  to 
say  :  his  Britannic  majesty,  on  his  part,  has  appointed  the  right  ho- 
norable Janus  lord  Qambier^  late  admiral  of  the  white,  now  admiral 
of  the  red  squadron  of  his  m^esty's  fleet,  Henry  GoulAumt  esquire, 
a  member  of  the  imperial  parliament  and  underiftscretary  of  Htate, 
and  William  Adnms,  esquire,  doctor  of  civil  laws  : — And  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate  thereof,  has  appointed  John  Quxncy  Aiams^  James  A.  Bay- 
ard,  Henry  Clay,  Jona^n  Russell,  and  Albert  GallaHn,  citizens,  of 
the  United  States,  who,  after  a  reciprocal  communication  of  their 
respective  full  powers,  have  agreed  upon  the  following  articles. 

ARTICLK  THE   FIB8T. 

There  shall  be  a  firm  and  universal  peace  between  his  Britannic 
mt^esty  and  the  United  States,  and  between  their  respective  coun- 
tries, territories,  cities,  towns,  and  people,  of  every  degree,  without 
exception  of  places  or  persona.  All  nostilities,  both  by  sea  and  land, 
shall  cease  as  «oon  as  this  treaty  shall  have  been  ratified  by  both 
parties,  as  hereinafter  mentioned.  AH  territory,  places,  and  pos- 
sessions whatsoever,  taken  from  either  party  by  the  other,  during 
the  war,  or  which  may  be  taken  after  the  signing  of  this  treaty,  ex- 
cepting only  the  islands  hereinafter  mentioned,  whall  Le  restored 
without  delay,  and  without  causing  any  destruction,  or  carrying  a- 
way  any  of  the  artillery  or  othOT  public  property  originally  captured 
in  the  said  forts  or  places,  and  which  shall  remain  therein  upon  the 
exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  or  any  slaves  or  other 
private  property.  And  all  archives,  records,  deeds,  and  ^pen^ 
either  (^  a  public  nature,  or  betondng  to  private  persons,  which,  in 
the  course  of  the  war,  may  have  fdlen  into  the  hands  of  the  oflicert 
qt  either  party,  shall  be,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  forthwith  re' 
stored  and  delivered  to  the  proper  autiiorities  and  persons  to  whom 
tUey  respectively  belong.    Such  of  the  islands  in  the  Imy  of  Passamar 


4S8 


HIltOBT  OV  THS  WIS.' 


^aoddraiare  clAiinedbybothpwCiet,  ihaiU  remain  in  the  ponec- 
uonor  the  party  In  whoie  occupation  they  may  be  at  the  time  of  the 
exchange  of  the  ratification!  of  Ihii  treaty,  until  the  decision  retpect- 
ing  the  title  to  the  raid  iilandt  tball  have  been  made  in  conformKy 
with  the  fourth  article  of  thii  treaty.  No  disposition  made  by  thia 
treaty,  as  to  such  nMieMiona  of  the  ulandi  and  territories  claimed  by 
both  parties,  shall,  in  any  manner  whatever,  be  construed  to  affect 
,  the  right  of  either. 

ARTICLI  TBI  StCOND.  " 

Immediately  after  the  ratification!  of  this  treaty  by  both  pdrtiei, 
as  hereinafter  mentioned,  orders  shall  be  sent  to  the  armies,  squad- 
rons, officers,  sul]dects  and  citisens,  of  the  two  powers  to  eease  from 
all  hostilitie! :  And  to  prevent  all  causei  of  complaint  which  might 
arise  on  account  of  the  prixes  which  may  be  taiken  at  sea  after  the 
raid  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  it  is  reciprocdly  agreed,  that  all  ves- 
sels  and  effects  which  may  be  talcen  after  the  space  of  twelve  days 
from  the  said  ratifications,  upon  all  parts  of  the  coast  of  North  Ame* 
rica,  from  the  latitude  of  twenty*three  degrees  north,  to  the  lati- 
tude of  fifty  degrees  north,  and  as  far  eastward  in  the  Atlantic  o- 
ciean,  as  the  thirttr  sixtil  degree  of  west  longitude  from  the  meridian 
of  Greenwich,  si,  aU  be  restored  to  each  side:  Tb  t  the  time  shall 
be  thii^^^  da^in  all  other  parts  of  the  Atlantic  ocean,  north  of  the 
equinoctial  hne  or  equator,  and  the  same  time  for  the  Bntish  and 
Irish  channels,  for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  all  parts  of  the  West'In- 
dies :  forty  days  for  the  North  seas,  for  the  Baltic,  and  for  all  parts 
of  the  Mediterrai^an :  sixty  dajsfor  the  Atlantic  ocean  sou^Ji  of  the 
equator  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope;  ninety 
days  for  every  part  of  the  world  south  of  the  equator :  and  one  hundred 
and  twenty  days  for  alt  other  parts  of  the  world,  without  eiweption. 

ARTICLI  THS  THIRD. 

All  prisoners  of  war  taken  on  either  side,  as  well  by  land  as  by 
sea,  shall  be  restored  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  ratification  of 
this  treaty,  as  herein- after  mentioned,  on  their  paving  the  debts 
which  they  may  have  contracted  during  their  captivity.  The  two 
contracting  parties  respectively  engage  to  discharge  in  specie,  the 
iEkdvances  mhieh  may  have  been  made  by  the  other,  for  the  suste- 
oance  and  maintenance  of  such  prisoners. 

V  ARTICLB   THK   VOORTH. 

Whereas  it  was  stipulated  by  the  second  article  in  the  treaty  of 

giace,  6f  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty -three,  between  hia 
ritannic  majestv  and  the  United  States  of  \merica, .  that  the  bonn'* 
dery  of  the  United  States  sliould  compreiiend  all  islands  within 
twenty  leagues  of  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  and 
lying  between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  e^st  from  the  points  where  the 
aforesaid  bounderies,  between  Nova  Scotia,  on  the  one  part,  and 
East  Florida  on  the  other,  shall  lespective.Iy  touch  the  Bay  of  Fun- 
dy,  and  the  Atlantic  ociean,  excepting  such  islands  as  now  are,  or 
heretofore  have  been,  within  the  limits  of  Nova  Scotia  ;  and  where- 
as the  several  islands  in  the  bay  of  Passamaquotldy,  which  is  part 
of  the  bay  of  Fundy.  and  the  island  of  Grand  Menan  in  the  said  Bay 
tif  Fundy,are  claimed  by  the  United  States  as  being  Comprehended 
within  their  aforesaid  boundaries,  \r|udi  said  islands  are  claimed  aa 


niSTOftT  OfV  THE  WAB* 


ftsi 


liehn^ac  to  hU  Britannic  majesty,  at  havina;  been  at  the  tine  oil 
«nd  previous  to,  the  aforesaid  treaty  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eifhty-three  irithin  the  limits  of  the  province  of  Nova  Scotia: 
In  ord#r,  therefore,  finally  to  decide  upon  these  claims,  it  is  agreed 
that  they  shall  be  referred  to  two  ctimmisNinnprS,  to  be  appointed  ia 
the  foUoirins  manner,  vis.  one  commissione I  shall  be  appointed  by 
his  Britannic  m^Jestr,  and  one  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  by  *i>d  with  tne  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  thereof*  and 
the  said  two  cov**iissioners  so  appointed  shall  be  sworn  impartially 
to  examine  and  Jecide  upon  the  said  claims  according  to  such  evid- 
ence as  shall  be  laid  before  them  on  the  part  of  his  Britannic  msv}esty 
and  of  the  United  Jtates  respectively.  The  said  commissioners  shall 
meet  at  St.  Andraws,  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswic|r,  and  shall 
have  power  to  adljoum  to  such  other  place  or  places  as  th^  shall 
think  fit.  The  said  conmisdooers  shall,  by  a  declaration  or  report 
'^vnder  their  hands  and  bcals,  decide  to  which  of  the  two  contracting 
parties  the  several  islands  aforesaid  do  respectively  belong,  in  con- 
formity with  the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace  ofone  thoa- 
-aand  seven '^bdred  and  eigh^  three.  And  if  the  said  comndsrioMn 
shall  agree  in  their  decision,  both  parties  sbdll  consider  such  decision 
as  finiJ  and  conclusive.  It  is  further  agreed,  that  in  the  event  of 
the  two  commissioners  differing  upon  all  or  any  of  the  matters  so  re- 
ferred to  them,  or  in  the  event  of  both  or  either  of  th  said  commiB<- 
doners  refusing,  or  declining,  or  wilfully  omitting,  >  act  as  such, 
they  shall  make,  jointly  or  separately,  a  report  or  reports,  as  well  to 
thego't^mmentof  his  Britannic  mi\jesty  as  to  that  of  the  United 
States,  stating  in  detml  the  points  on  which  t&ey  ditfer,  andthe 
'grounds  upon  which  their  respective  opinions  have  oeen  formed,  or 
th^  grounds  upon  which  they,  or  either  of  them,  have  so  refused,  de 
dined,  or  omitted  to  act.  And  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  the  go- 
vernment of  theUnited  States  hereby  agree ^o  refer  the  report  or  re- 
ports of  the  said  commissioners,  to  some  friendly  sovereign  or  state, 
to  be  then  named  for  that  purpose,  and  whn  shall  be  requested  to  de^ 
cide  on  the  differences  which  may  be  stated  in  the  said  report  or  re- 
ports, or  upon  the  report  ofone  commissioner,  together  withtiie' 
grounds  upon  which  the  other  commissioner  shall  have  refused,  de- 
clined, or  omitted  to  act,  as  the  case  may  be.  Andif  in^ponimusron- 
er  so  refusing,  declining,  or  omitting  to  act,  shall  also  wilfnlly  oinhi 
to  state  the  grounds  upon  whitih  he  has  so  done,  in  sqeli  manner  that 
the  saud  statement  may  be  referred  to  such  friendly  sovereign  or 
state,  together  with  the.report  of  such  other  commissioner,'  then4iich 
sovereign  or  state  shall  decide  ex  parte  upon  the  sud  report  alone. 
And  his  Britannic  msyesty  and  the  government  of  the  United  States 
^engage  to  consider  the  decision  of  some  friendly  soveceign  or  state* 
to  be  such  and  conclusive  on  all  the  matters  so  referred. 

ARTICLE  THB  VltTU. 

Whereas  neither  that  point  of  the  high  landi  lying  due  north 

from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  and  designated  in  the  former  » 

treaty  hf  peace,  between  the  two  powers,  as  the  northwest  angle  of 

Nova  Scotia,  noW  the  northwestemmost  head  of  Connecticut  river, 

i""  1^  yet  been  ascertained, ;  and  whereas  that  part  of  the  boundary 

A    ikte  between  the  dominion  ot  the  two  powers  which  extends  from  the 

■.;^j^Rattrce  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  directly  north  to  the  abovementioa^ 


nod 


HISTOBT  or  Tll£  VAB. 


r''!v*> 


northwest  Mg\e  of  Nova  Sootia,  thence  along  the  aaid  highlaMb 
which  divide  thoie  riven  that  eiupty  themaelvei  into  the  river  St. 
Lawrence,  from  those  which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  to  the 
northwetternniott  head  of  Connecticut  river,  thence  down  along 
the  middle  of  the  river  to  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  ; 
thence  by  a  line  due  west  ontaid  latitude  until  it  Btriket  the  river 
Iroquoii,  or  Cataraguy,  hat  not  yet  been  surveyed  :  It  ii  acreed 
that  for  these  several  ipurposes  two  comnussiooeri  shall  be  ap#Bint- 
cd,  sworn,  and  authorised,  to  act  esactly  in  the  manner  directed 
with  respect  to  those  mentioned  in  the  neat  preceding  article,  unless 
otherwise  specified  in  the  present  article.  The  said  commissioners 
shall  meet  at  St.  Andrews,  in  the  province  of  New-BruDswick,  and 
lliall  have  power  to  a4}ourn  to  such  other  place  or  places  as  they 
shall  think  fit.  The  said  commissioners  shall  have  power  to  ascer- 
tain and^  determine  the  points  abovementioned,  in  conformity  with 
the  provisions  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace  of  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  shall  cause  the  boundary  aforesaid, 
from  the  source  of  the  river  St.  Croix,  to  the  river  Iroquois  or  Ca- 
tMignpf  to  be  surveyed  and  marked  according  to  the  said  provisions. 
The  and  commissioners  shall  make  a  map  of  the  said  boundary,  and 
tpnez  to  it  a  declaration  under  their  hands  and  seals,  certifying  it 
to  be  the  true  map  of  the  said  boundary,  and  particularising  the  lat< 
itude  wd -longitude  of  the  northwest  angle  of  Nova  Scotia,  of  the 
northwesternmost  head  of  Connecticut  nver,  and  of  such  other  points 
of  the  same  boundary  as  they  may  deem  proper.  And  both  parties 
agree  to  consider  such  map  and  declaration  as  finally  and  ^^ponclu- 
slvely  fixing  the  said  boundary.  And  in  the  event  of  the  said  two 
commissioners  differing,  or  both,  or  dther  of  them,  refusing  or  de- 
clining, or  wilfully  omitting  to  act,  such  reports,  declarations,* or 
statements,  shall  be  made  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such 
reference  to  a  friendly  sovereign  or  state,  shall  be  made,  in  all  re- 
spects, as  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is  contained,  and  in 
ai  ftill  a  manner  ar  if  the  same  was  herein  repeated. 

AHTICLB  THB  SIXTH. 

Whereas,  by  the  former  treaty  of  peace,  that  portion  (^  the  boun- 
dary of  the  United  States,  from  the  point  where  the  forty-fifth  de^ 
gee  of  north  latitude  strikes  the  river  Iroquois,  or  Cataraguy, ,  to 
e  lake  superior,  was  declared  to  be  **  along  the  middle  of  said  ri- 
**  ver  into  lake  Ontario,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  until  it 
**  strikes  the  communication  by  water  between  that  lake  and  lake 
**  Erie,  thenoe  along  the  middle  of  said  communicaticn  into  lake 
*'  Erie,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  until  it  arrives  at  the  water 
V  commtinication  into  the  lake  Huron,  thence  through  the  middle  <^ 
**  said  lake  to  the  water  communication  between  that  lake  and  lake 
**  Superior."  And  whereas  doubts  have  arisen,  what  Was  the  mid- 
dle of  said  river,  lakes  and  water  communications,  and  whether 
certain  islands  lying  in  the  larae  were  within  the  dominions  of  his 
Britannic  majesty  or  of  the  United  States  :  In  order,  therefore, 
finally  to  deride  these  doMbts,  they  shall  be  referred  to  twc^  com- 
missioners, to  be  appomted,  sworn,  and  authorised  to  act^  exactly  in 
the  manner  directed  with  respect  to  those  mentioned  in  the  next 
pceoeding  article,  unleia  ethjirwise  specified  iii  this  present  article.— 


'J* 


HISTOBY  OT  THE  WAIW 


l^i 


The  said  commiMioncn  ihall  meet,  \u  t Ite  fint  instance,  at  Albany, 
in  the  itate  of  New<-York,  and  ahall  have  power  to  acUoarq.  to  auch 
other  |4ace  or  placet  ai  they  ihall  think  fit :  The  said  commiision- 
ers  shut,  hy  a  report  or  declaration,  under  their  hands  and  seals, 
designate  the  boundary  through  the  said  river,  lakes,  and  water 
eonraianications,  and  decide  to  which  of  the  two  contracting  parties 
the  several  islands  lying  witliin  the  said  river,  lakes,  and  water 
eoaunnnications,  do  respectively  belong,  in  conformity  with  the  tnm 
intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eiglity* 
three.  And  both  parties  agree  to  consider  such  designation  and 
decliioo  as  final  and  conclusive.  And  in  the  event  of  the  said  two 
eoBunissioners  differing,  or  boti),  or  either  of  them,  refusing,  deelin- 
ing,  or  wilAiUy  omitting  tc  act,  such  reports,  deelaratioas  or  state- 
nents,  shall  be  nude  by  them,  or  either  of  them,  and  such  refereiialiii$, 
to  a  friendly  Mvereigo  or  state,  shall  be  made,  in  all  respects;  as  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  article  is  cootained,  and  in  at  fiill  » 
manner  as  if  the  same  was  herein  repeated. 

ARTICLI  THS  SIVMTH. 

It  is  further  agreed,  that  the  said  two  last  mentioned  commission* 
ers,  after  they  shall  have  executed  the  duties  assigned  to  thedi  iw 
the  preceding;  article,  shall  be,  apd  they  are 'hereby  authorised,  upon 
their  oaths,  impartially  to  fix  and  determine,  according  to  the  true 
intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand  seven  hundred" 
and  eighty-three,  that  part  of  the  boundary  between  the  dominiolw 
of  the  two  powers,  which  extends  from  the  water  communication  be< 
tween  lake  Huron  and  lake  Superior,  to  the  most  north-western^ 
point  of  the  lake  of  the  Woods,  to  decide  to  which  of  the  two  parties 
the  several  islands  lying  in  the  lakes,  water  commnnications,  and  ri- 
verv,  forming  the  said  boundary,  do  respectively  belong,  in  conformi' 
ty  with  the  true  intent  of  the  said  treaty  of  peace,  of  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  three ;  and  te  cause  such  parts  of  the  said 
boundary,  as  require  it,  to  be  surveyed  and  marked.  The  said  com- 
missioners shall,  by  a  report  or  declaration,  under  their  hands  amir 
seals,  designate  the  boumlary  aforesaid,  state  tlieir  decision  on  the 
points  thus  referred  to  them,  and  particularize  the  latitude  and  lon- 
gitude of  the  most  north- western  point  of  the  lake  of  the  Woods,  and 
•f  such  other  parts  of  the  said  boundary  as  tliey  may  deem  proper. 
And  both  parties  agree  to  con^fder  such  designatiou  and  decision  as 
final  and  conclusive.  And,,  in  the  event  of  the  said  two  commission- 
ers differing,  or  both,  or  either  of  them  refusing,  declining,  or  wil* 
fully  omitting  to  act,  such  reports,  declarations,  or  statements,  shall 
be  made  by  them,  or  cither  of  them,  and  snch  reference  to  a  friendly 
lovereign  or  state,  shall  be  made  in  all  respects,  as  in  the  latter  part 
of  tlie  fourth  article  is  contained,  and  iu  as  full  a  nvtnoer  as  if  the 
same  was  herein  repeated. 

ARTICta  THK   EIOnTH. 

The  several  hoards  of  two  commissioners,  mentioned  in  tlie  four 
j^ecedin.;;  articles,  shall  respectively  have  power  to  appoint  a  secre- 
tary, and  to  employ  such  surveyors,  or  other  persons,  as  they  shall 
jtidge  necessary.  Dijplicates  of  all  their  respective  reports,  declara- 
tions, st'Vteinrnts  and  i^ttclslnnn,  and  of  their  accounts,  and  of  the^ 
JBUuial  of  their  pcoceediags,  shall  be  delivered  by  tben>.to  the  agent* 


m» 


StftTeRT  09  'ZBK   WIB; 


•f  his  Britamnik  ma\iesty,  and  to  the  agents  of  the  United  States,  wlfl^ 
nay  be  respectively  appointed,  and  authorised  to  manage  the  bust* 
aess  on  behalf  of  their  respective  governments.  The  said  Bfi|inis» 
sioners  shall  be  respectively  paid  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  agreed, 
between  the  two  contracting  parties,  such  agreement  being  to  be  set* 
tied  at  the  time  oi  the  exchange  of  the  ratiiicaUons4>f  this  treaty.— 
And  all  other  expences  attending  tiiesaid  commissioners  shall  be  de* 
frayed  eqpall^  by  the  two  parties.  And  in  the  case  of  death,  sick- 
ness, resignatiols,  or  necessary  absence,  the  place  of  every  such  com- 
missioner respectively  shall  be  supplied  in  the  same  manner  as  sach 
•ommissioner  was  first  appointed,  and  the  new  commissioaer  shall 
take  the  same  oath  or  aiBrmation,  an^  do  the  same  duties.  It  is 
further  agreed  between  the  two  contracting  parties,  that  in  case  any 
•f^i^  islands  mentioned  in  any  of  the  preceding  articles,  which 
herein  the  possession  of  one  of  the  parties  ivior  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  war  between  the  two  countries,  should,  by  the 
decision  of  any  of  the  boards  of  commissioners  aforesaid,  or  of  the- 
sovereign  or  state  so  referred  t«,  as  in  thj  four  next  preceding  arti- 
cles contained,  fall  within  the  dominions  of  the  other  party,  all 
grants  of  land  made  previous  to  the  commencement  of  tiie  war  by 
the  party  having  had  such  possession,  shall  be  as  valid  as  if  such  isl- 
and or  islands,  had,  by  such 'decision  w  decisions,  been  adjudged  to. 
he  witl^jn  the  domiuions  of  the  party  having  had  such  possession.    . 

*^  itnTICtl   THE  NINTH. 

The  United  States  of  America  engage  to  fnt  an  end,  immediately 
after  the  ratification  of  the  prescot  treaty,  to  hostilities  with  all  the 
tribes  of  nations  of  Indians,  with  whom  they  may  be  at  war  at  the 
time  of  such  ratification  ;  and  forthwith  to  restore  to  such  tribes  or 
nations,  respectively,  all  the  possessions,  rights  and  privileges,  which 
they  may  have  enjoyed,  or  been  entitled  to,  in  -one  thousand  eight 
hundred  aad  eleven,  previous  to  such  hostilities  :  Provided  alwayf^ 
That  such  tribei  or  nations,  'shall  agree  to  desint  from  all  hostilities, 
against  the  United  States  of  America,  their  citizens  and  subjects, 
upon  the  ratification  of  the  present  treaty  being  notified  to  such 
tribe  or  nations,  and  shall  so  desist  accordingly.^  And  his  Britan- 
oiemajesty  engages,  on  his  partt' to  put  an  c^«  immediately  after 
the  ratificaUon  of  the  present  treaty,  to  hostilities  with  all  the 
tribes. or  nations  of  Indians,  with  whom  he  may  be  at  war,  at  the 
time  of  such  ratification,  and  forthwith  to  restore  to  such  tribes  or ' 
nations,  r^peeti\^ely,  all  the  possessions,  rights  and  privileges  which 
they  may  have  enjoyed,  or  been  entitled  to,  in  one  thoiisaml  eight 
hundred  and  eleven,  previous  to  such  hostilities :  Provided  alwQffSf 
That  snch  tribes  or  nations  shall  agree  to  desist  from  all  hostilitieft 
against,  his  Britannic  msyesty,  and  his  subjects,  upon  the  ratification 
of  the  present  treaty  being  notified  to  such  tribes  or  nations,  and 
shall  so  desist  accordingly* 

*     '  '  ASTICLS  THE  TENTH. 

Whereas  the  traffic  In  slaves  is  irreconcilable  with  the  principles 
of  humai^ty^^  and  justice,  and  whereas  both  his  majesty  and  the 
United  States  are  desirous  oreoBtinuiug  their  eilbrts  to  promote  its 
entire  abolition,  it  is  hereby  agreed,  that  both  the  contractiA^  par- 
ties shall  nse  their  bestjendeavors  to  accomplish  so  desirable  a^ 
object.  . 


% 


HTSTOllT  OF  THE  Wim 


d9a- 


ARTICLB  TBI-  KLiyillTR. 

This  treaty,  when  the  saiae  thdlhave  been  ratified  OD  both  tidei,^ 
Ivithi.  j|t  alteratiott'^b^  either  of  the  contractiDi;  partien,  andHhe  rati* 
oatioDi  mutually  exchanged,  shall  be  binding  on  both  parties,  and 
the  ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  at  Washmcton,  in  the  space  of 
fiMir  mouths  from  this  day,  or  sooner  if  practicable. 

In  faith  whereof,  we,  the  respective  plenipotentiaries,  havensm* 
ed  this  treaty,  and^  have  thereunto  affixed  our  seals. 

Done  ip  treplicate,  at  Ghent,  the  twenty-fourth  day  <^  Decenir 
ber,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fourteen. 

(L.  8.)  GAM  BIER, 
(L.  8.)                          '        HENRY  OOULBURN, 

{h.  8.)  WILLIAM  ADAMS, 

*       (t.  8)  JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS* 

(l.  s  )  J   A.  BAYARD, 

(L.  8)  H.CLAY, 

(L   8.)  JONA.  RUSSEUi, 

(L.  s.y  •  AI.BERT  GALLATIN. 

Now,  therefore,  to  the  end  that  the  said  treaty  of  peace  andamitjr' 
may  hi?  observed  with  good  faith,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  1^ 
James  Madison,  president  as  aforesaid,  have  caused  the  premises  to 
be  made  public ;  and  I  do  hereby  enjoin  all  persons,  bearing  office, 
civil  or  military,  within  the  United  States,  and  all  others,  citizens  or 
ihhabitantij  thereof,  or  being  within  the  same,  faithfully  to  obterv^ - 
and  fulfil  the  said  treaty,  and  every  cliliuse  and  article  thereof. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  hare  caused  the  seal  of  the  UniteJl'! 
(l.  s.)  States  to  be  affixed  ito  these  presents,  and  signed  the  same  - 
with  my  hand. 
Done  atthe  city  of  Washington,  tliis  eightesnth  day  oT 
February,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  fifteen,  and  of  the  sovereignty  and  ind*'- 
pendence  of  the  United  States,  the  thirty-ninth.- 

JAMES  MADISON* 
By  the  President,' 

JAMES  MONROE,  AcHhg  Secretdry  qf  Stdk: 

The  terms  of  the •  1  rcat y,  being  eonsidcrpd-* 
honorable  t-o  (he  country,,  and   saUsfactorj  tO' 
the  citizens,  their  ratlfieatron  was  fbHtowed  by 
the  most  j^neral  and  enthusiastic  joy,  aecdmpa- 
nied  by  illiimination9>:&o..&c.  ia  eYery  p^rt-  of 
the  union* 

Reference  beinj^had  in  this  treaty  to  that  of  V 
4783,  it  is  thought  proper,  for  the  ietterundeeV^ 
standing  of  the  whole,  fa  print;  irp: -ihi^  Ii>l^<^- 
the  foiiuwing  e^  of  the  said  treat^^ 

Z..2.. 


'  1 


29^ 


SnTOBT  OF  THS  WMm 


\ 


DEFINITIVE  TREATV  OF  PEACE 

BITWnN    TUX 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMfikiCA   AND  HIS  BRITANNIC 

MAJESTY. 

Fn  the  name  qf  tKe  Most  Holy  and  Undivided  Trinity.         ^ 

IT  having  pleased  the  Divine  Providence  to  dispose  the  hearts  of 
the  most  serene  and  most  potent  prince  George  the  third,  by  the 
grace  of  God  king  of  Great  Britian,  France  and  Ireland,  defender  o£ 
the  faith,  Duke  of  Brunswick  abd  Lunenburg,  Arch-treasurer  and 
Prince  elector  of  the  most  holy  romao  empire,  &c.  and  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  to  forget  all  past  misunderstanding's  and  differen- 
ces that  have  unhappily  mtemipted  the  good  correspondence  and 
friendship  which  they  mutually  wish  to  restore ;  and  to  establish* 
mch  a  beneficial  and  satisfactory  intercourse  between  the  two  coon- 
tries,  upon  the  ground  of  reciprocal  advantages  and  mutual  conveo- 
jence,  as  m«y  promote  and  secure  to  both  perpetual  peace  and  harqao* 
ny  :  AUd  baTing  for  this  desirable  end,  already  laid  the  foundation 
of  peace  and  reconciliation,  by  the  provisional  articles,  signed  at  Pa- 
ris, on  the  thirtieth  of  November,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  an^^ 
eighty-two,  by  the  commissioners  empowered  on  each  part,  which  ar- 
ticles were  agreed  to  be  inserted  in,  and  to  constitute  tiie  treaty  of 
peace  proposed  to  be  concluded  between  the  crown  of  Great  Britian 
and  the  said  United  States,  but  which  treaty  was  not  to  be  conrlud« 
«d  until  terms  of  peace  shcHild  be  agreed  upon  between  Great  Britain 
and  France,  and  his  Britannic  Msgesty  should  be  ready  to  conclude 
such  treaty  accordingly  ^  and  the  treaty  between  Great  Britain  and 
France^  having  since  been  concluded,  his  Britannic  mi^sty  and  the 
Vmted  States  of  America,  in  order  to  carry  into  full  effect  the  pro- 
vinonal  articles  abovementibned,  according  to  the  tenor  thereof,  have 
constituted  and  appointed,  that  is  to  say,  His  Britannic  majesty  on 
hh  part,  David  ]wirtley,  esqaire,  member  of  t|ie  Pariiament  of  Great 
BritaiB.;  and  ^e  said  United  States  on  their  part,  John  Adams,  es- 
quire, late  a  Commissioner  of  the  United  States  of  America  at  the 
^oart  of  Versailles,  late  delegate  in  Congress  from  the  state  of  Mas*- 
taebusetts,  and  Ctdef  Justice  of  the  said  state,  and  Minister  plenipo- 
tentiary of  the  laid  United  States  to  their  high  miriitinesses  the 
States  General  of  the  United  Netherlands  ;  Bei\)amin  Franklin,- esq, 
late  deleipte  in  Congress  trom  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  President 
•f  the  Convention  of  the  said  stete,  and  Minister  PItenipotentiary 
frmn  the  United  States  of  America  at  tho  court  of  Versailles  ;  John- 
Jay,  estuire,  late  President  of  Congress,  and  Chief  Justice  of  the 
state  of  New  York,  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  from  the  said  Uni- 
ted States  at  the  oojirt  of  Madrid,  to  be  the  Plenipotentiaries  f»r  the 
conclucUng  and  signing  the  present  definitive  treaty  ;  who  after  hav- 
iag  reciprocally  communicated  their  respective  full  powers*  have  a« 
^eed  upon  and  confirmed  the  following  articles. 

ARTlCLK  t. 

His  Britannic  ma^ty  acknowledges  the  said'  United  States,  vir, 
N(^w -Hampshire,  Massachusetts-Bay,  Rhode-Island  and  Providence 
Pian^tioait  ComecticDt,  New-York,   New-Jorsey,  FeaBsylvanii^ 


BISTORT  OT  THE  WAB. 


S9ff 


Delegare,  Maryland,    Virginia,  NorthCaroIina,  Souths Caroliaar 
and  Geonia,  to  be  free,  sovereign,  and  independent  states  ;  that  he 
treats  with  them  as  sDch;  and  for  himself,  bis  heirs  and  successors, 
relinquishes  all  claims  to  the  government,  propriety  and  territorial 
riglits  of  the  same,  and  every  part  thereof. 

ARTICLE  II. 

And  that  all  disputes  Trhich  might  arise  in  future,  on  the  su^iject  of 
the  boundaries  of  the  said  United  States  may  be  prevented,  it  is 
hereby  agreed  and  declared,  that  the  following  are,  and  shall  be 
thdr  boundaries,  viz.    From  the  north-west  angle  of  Nova  Scotia, 
viz.  that  angle  which  is  formed  by  a  line,  drawn  due  north  from 
the  source  of  St.  Croix  river  to  the  Highlands ;  along  the  said  High- 
lands  which  divide  those  rivers,  that  empty  themselves  into  the  river 
St  Lawrence,  from  those  which  fall  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  to  the 
Borthwestermost  head  of  Connecticut  river,  thence  down  along^he 
middle  of  that  river  to  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  from 
thence,  by  a  line  due  west  on  said  latitude,  until  it  gtrikes  the  river 
Iroquois  or  Cataraquy  ^  thence  along  the  middle  of  said  river  into 
lake  Ontario,  through  the  middle  of  said  lake  until  it  strikes  tba^ 
communication  by  water  between  that  lake  and  lake  J^e  ;  thence  ' 
along  the  middle  of  said  communication  into  lake  Erie,  through  the 
middle  of  said  lake  until  it  arrives  at  the  water-commnnication  be- 
tween that  lake  mid  lake  Huron ;  thence  along  the  middle  of  said' 
water-communication  into  the  lake  Huron  ;  thence  through  the  midV 
die  of  said  lake  to  the  water  communication  between  that  lake  and^ 
take  Superior  ;>  thence  through  lake  Superior  northward  of  the  isles 
Royal  and  Pbilipeaux,  to  the  Long  Lake ;  thence  through  the  mid- 
dle of  Hafd  Long  Lake,  and  the  water  commtmication  between  it  and: 
the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  to  the  said  Lake  of  the  Woods;  thence 
thcough'the  said  take  to  the  most  oorihwestem  point  thereof,  and^ 
frofti  thence  on  a  due  west  course  to  thic  river  MiBsissippr;  thence  bjr  ^ 
aline  to  be  drawn  along  the  middle  of  the  said  river  Missisrippi,. 
until  it  shall  intersect  4he  northernmost  part  of  the  thirty- first  de* 
gree  of  north  latitude.    South  liy  a  Une  to  be  drawn  due  ea^t  from 
the  determination  of  the  line  last  mentioned,  in  the  latitude  of  thirty- 
one  degrees  north  of  the  equator,  to  the  middle  of  the  river  Apaw^ 
chicola  or  Catahouche ;  thence  along  the  middle  thereof  to  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Flint  river ;  thence  straight  to  the  head  of  St.  Mary*i 
river ;  and  thence  down  along  the  middle  of  St.  Mary*8  river  to  the 
Atlantic  ocean.    East  by  a  line  tobe  drawn  along  the  middle  of  the 
river  St.  Croix,  from  its  mouth  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to  its  source,, 
and  from  its  source  directly  north  to  the  aforesaid  Highlands  which 
divide  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the  Atlantic  ocean,  from  these  whicbr 
fan  into  the  river  St.  Lawrence  :  comprehending  all  islands  withfn 
twenty  leagues  of  any  part  of  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  and-' 
fying  between  lines  to  be  drawn  due  east  from  the  points  where  the 
aforesaid  boundaries  between  Nova  Scotia  on  the  one  p.'trt,  and  East- 
Florida  on  the  other,  shall  respectively  touch  the  Bay  of  Fund]^ 
and  the  Atlantic  ocean  ;  exceptin]^  such  islands  as  now  are,  or  here- 
tofore have  been  within  the  limits  of  the  said  province  of  Nbya: 
Scotia. 

AtTICLBIII. 

ft  is  agreed,  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  shall  coBtinue 


299 


ttlSTORr  Of  THE   VAS* 


to  enjoy  unmolested  the  right  to  take  fish  of  every  kind  on  the  Gretnl: 
Bank,  and  oaall  the  other  baukt  of  Nev?toundUod  ,  alto  in  the  guJplt. 
of  .St.  Lawrence,  and  at  all  otltfj^laces  iu  the  dea,  where  the  inhab* 
Hants  of  both  countries. used  at  Any  time  heretofore  to  fish  ;  and  also^ 
that  the  inhabitaots  of  the. United  States  shall,  have  libec^'  to  t»ke 
iish  of  every  kind  on  such  part  of  the  coast  of  Newfouadland  as  Bri- 
tish fishennea  shall  use  (hut  not  to  dry  or  cure  the  same  on- that 
island)  :  and  also  on  the  coasts,  bays  and  creeks  of  all  other  of  his. 
Britannic  miyesty^s  dominions  in  America  ;  and  that  the  American' 
fishermen  shall  have  liberty  to  dry  and  cure  fish  in  any  of  the  un- 
settledbays,  harbors  and  cr^ks  of  Nova  Scotia;  Magdalen  iHlands^ 
and  Labrador,  sofong^as^tie  same  shall  remain  unsettled;^  but  so. 
soon  as  the  saute,  or  cither  of  them,  shall  be  settled;  it  shall  not  be 
tawful  fdrthe  said'fishermen  to  di7  or  cure  fidh  at  such  settlement,, 
vrithout  a  previous  ag^ement  for  that  purpose  with.the  inhabitants,^ 
iiroffrietors  or  possessors  of  the  ground. 

A^ITICLE   IV. 

It  is  agreed}  that  creditors  on  either  side^  shall  meet  with  no  lair* 
fbl  iiupedimeot  to  the  recovery  of  the.  full  value  in  steitluig  'moneys,., 
of  all  bona  fide  debts- heretofore  contracted. 

AancLK  V. 

It  IS  agreed;  that  the  congress  shall  earnestly  re<^mm(*nd  It  to  the.' 
rpgislatui-es  of  the  refipective  states.,  to  provide  foe  the  restitution  oL' 
aire8tat^,,ri]eht8  and  prOpertiefl.  which. have  been  confiscated,   be- 
jonging  to  real' British  subjecte,  and  also  of  the  estates,  rights  and 
properties  of  persons  resident  in  districts  in  the  possession  of  bis  ma->- 
&8ty*6  arms,  and  who  iiav«  not  borne  arms  agiiiost  the  said  IJnited: 
States.    And  that  persons  of  any  other  description  shall  have  free- 
Uberty  to  go  to^aliy  part  or  parts  of  any  of  the  thirteen  United  States^ 
and  therem- to  remain  twelve  months,  unmolested  in  their  endeavors, 
to  obtain  the  restitution  of  such  of  their  estates^  rights  and  properties, 
as  may  have  Keen  confiscated.;  and  that  oongress  shall  also  earnestr 
ly  recommend,  to  the  several  states,  a  re  consfderalion  and  revitiioo 
of  all  actb  or  laws  regarding  the  preonses,   so  as  to  render  the  said; 
lilNrs  or  acts  perfectly  consistent,,  not.  only  with  justice  and  equity, . 
but  with  that  spirit  of  toncitiatton,  which,  qn  tlte  return  of  the  bles< 
siugs  oT  peace,  should  universally  prevail    And  that  congress  shall : 
also  earnestly  recommend*  to  the  severar  states,  that  the  e^-tatcfl,  . 
irkhts  and'pi'opertii^.  of  such  last  mantiOaed  persons,  shall  be  restor- 
ed to  jUieai;  tiify  irefklndlng  to  any  persons  who  may  bie  now  in  pos.- 
Session,  tbe^^btma  fide  price  (where any  has  been  giyen)  which  such: 
persmis  may  HnVe  paidl  on  purchasing,  any  of '  the  said .  lands,  rights 
or  prttiiornes;  since  ttfe  confiscation      knd  It  is  agreed,  that  all  perr 
Botil  whilJJiave  'siky  interest  in  coofiBcatfd  lands,  either  by  A^U  mat- 
ri^ge  sH^^ments,  or  otherwise,  shall'meet  with  up  lawful  impjitdfaiienftr 
&a  the  pit^iecuiloaof  theii"  jiut  rightsv 

ARTICLB   rt. 

That  there  shall  Ke  no  (utore^con^catiohs  made,. nor  any  prosft^ 
cntions  commenced  against  any  prson  or  persons  for,  oi  by  reason  of 
the  pait  which  he  or  they  may  have  taken  in  the  present  war ;  and 
that  DO  person  shall;  on  that  account,  suffer  any  future  (oso  or-d'a- 


BISTORT   OV  THE  WAS. 


£97 


vag^i  cither  in  hifl  person,  liberty  or  property  ;  and  that  those  who 
nay  be  in  confinement  on  such  charfes,  at  the  time  of  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty  in  America;  shall  be  famnediately  set  at  liberty,  andth^ 
prosecutions  so  cinomenced  be  discontinued. 

AETICLB  TII. 

There  shall  be  a  firm  and  perpetual  peace  between  his  Britannie 
■ajestjr  and  the  said  States,  and  between  the  subjects  of  the  one  and 
the  dttiens  of  the  other,  wherefore  all  hostilities,  both  by  sea  and 
land,  shall,  from  henceforth,  cease :  all  prisoners  oa  both  sides  shall, 
he  set  at  liberty,  and  his  Britanaic  m^}csty  shall,  with  all  conveB' 
ieni  speed,  and  without  causing  any  destruction,  or  carryii^  away 
any  negroes,  or  other  property  of  the  American  inhabitants,  withdraw 
all  his  armies,  garrisons  and  fleets  firom  the  said  United  States,  and 
flrom  every  post,  place(and  harbor  within  the  same  leaving  in  all  fot^ 
ttfications  the  American  artillery  that  may  be  tlierein ;  and  shal^so 
order  and  cause  all  archives,  records,  deeds  and  papers,  belonging  to- 
any  of  the  said  statei^  or  their  citizens,  which  in  the  course  of  :.he 
war  may  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  his  o£Bcers,  to  be  forthwith: 
resjtored  and  delivered  to  the  proper  states  and  persons  to  whoai 
they  belong. 

AatlCM  VIII. 

The  navigation  of  the  rivev  Mississippi,  from  its  source  to  tht^ 
•eean,  shmlor  ever  remain  fiee  and  open  to  the  subjects  of  Grea|(^ 
Britain  and  the  citizens  of  the  United  StateSi 

ARTICLI  IX.. 

In  cas^  it  should  so  happen,  that  any  place  or  territory  belongihr 
toGreat-Britainor  to  the  United  States,  should  have  been  conquered 
by  the  arms  of  either  from  the  other,  before  the  amTatof  the  laid 
provisional  articles  v*  America^  M-b.  agreed,  that  the  same  shall  lie^ 
restored  without  difficulty,  and  without  requiring  any  conopensatioD. 

ARTtCLK  X. 

The  solemn  ratification  of  the  present  treaty,  expedited  in  good 
and  due  form,  shall  be  exchanged  between  the  contracting  parties,  in 
the  space  of  six  months,  or  soofier  if  possiUe,  to  be  computed  froia 
the  day  of  the  signature  tf  the  present  treaty.  In  witness  whereof, 
we,  the  undersigned,  their  ministers  plenipotentiary,  have,  in  their 
name,  and  in  virtue  of  our  full  powers,  signed  with  our  hands  the 
present  definitive  treaty,  and  caused  the  stols  of  our  arms  to  be  affix* 
ed  thereto. 

Done  at  Paris,  this  third  day  of  September,  in  the  year  ofoQr 
JUord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  three. 


D.  HARTLEY, 
JOHN  AD\MS, 
B.  FRANKLIN^ 
JOHN  JAY. 


(L.  S.) 

fL.  8.) 

(l.  8.) 

(t,  S.) 

Having  given  in  page  34  and  35,  the  list  of 
the  American  navy,  as  it  stood,  at  the  com« 
mencement  of  the  war,  it  may  be  considered  in- 
teresjting  to  know  how  the  Lilliputian  navy 


^  'I  I 


m 


HI9T01IT  01  THE  WAB. 


*#■ 


trithstood  an  enemy  wbieli  was  to  have  **  blow 
it  out  of  tbe  water."  The  following  is  the  naval 
list  of  shipping,  in  June,  1815.  Those  vessels, 
whosenames  are  marked  (*)  are  sueh  as  remainr 
of  the  naval  force  before  the  war.  -Those  marked 
(0  are  building.  Those  marked  in  Italic  are 
jideh  as  were  captured  from  the  British,  during 
the  war.  The  rfit  have  been  built  or  purehas- 
ed' during  the  war.  Those  that  nre  blank  have 
BO  ai^niament  at  present. 


tfavMUff  Vesttls. 


74    Ship  Independence 

74  Washiacton 

74  Fi-aaklSni 

74  ffew-QrleBmif 

74  Chippewa) 

■JU.  Oaerriere 
*i       ^'     Java 

44  United  Stfitei)' 

44  ConstitoUon* 

4^  Plattshurg} 

44  Superior 

dA  Coniteliltjon* 

88 COMij^iAl*   ■■■ 

36  aa/a^iion 

^  Mohawk 

32  l7of|/iance 

24  Saratoga 

24  John  Adams* 

24  General  Pike 

20  Madison 

20  AUrt 

18  Hornet* 

18  Wasp 

18  Peacock 

18  Ontario 

18  Erie 

18  Louisiana* 
18    Brig  Jefferson 

18  Jones 

18  E^rvitf 

T8  Ktajj^ra 

13  liitwrience 

16  DeiroU 

18  Eagle  ^ 

16  Sflph 

If  Chippeijrt, 


Comnanderi.         Stafi»n$,  i[c 


Com. 


Bainbndfe 

Chauiicej^ 

Smith 


Com.  S.  Decatur 
O.  H.  Perry 
'J.  Shaw 
C.  Stewart 


C.  Gordon 


C.  Morrifl 


Jones 


S.  Ansus 
W.JV.  Crane 
E.  Trenehard 
S.  M.  Cooper 
J.  Biddle 
J.  Blakfl^ 
L.  Warrington 
J.  D.  Elliot 
C.  0.  Ridgely 


Boston 

PortsmOQtb,  N.  H. 
Philadelphia 
Sacket^s  Harbor 
Do.  do. 

Atjcr  ' 
Baltimore' 
Bpitxm 

AtBMtM. 

8ack«i*s  Harbor 
Do.  ••       do. 
At  sea 
At  Boston 

At  BCR 

Sacket^s  iSairbor 
White  Hall,  N.  X. 
N.  Vork 

White  Hall,  N.  t- 
New-York 
Sacket*s  Harbor 
Do.  do. 

Washington,  D.^^ 
Cruizing 

Do. 
^Po. 
At  sea 
New-Vork 


C.^.  B.  Thompson  New4>rleans 

Sacket*s  Harbor 


M.  T.  WooUey 
J.  Dowus 


Do.  do. 

At  sea 

Erie,  Penn. 
Do.  do. 

Do.  do. 

White  Halt,  N.  1 
Saeket's  ikuhac 


*  *» 


lUflTORT  07  rfHB  WJJU 


t$f 


FeisOt. 


Command«r$.        SMiimy  tfc. 


18 
19 
16 
16 
It 
T4 
11 
12 
J2 
12 
9 

2 
d 

14 
17 
U 
10 
10 

0 

7 

7 
7 
3 
3 
4 
3 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 


11 

11 

7 

« 


Queen  Charlotte 

Saranae 

Unna 

Boxer 

Troap 

Oneida 

Enterprize^ 

Flambeau 

Spark 


^re  FI7 
Trot 


.'rometbeaa 
Ctna  (bomb) 
Caledmia 
Obeat 

Schr.  Nonsuch'  * 

Ticonderoga 

Fint&re 

Torch 

Lotfy  Pretwii 

Tom  Bowline 

Alligator 

Roanoke 

Hornet 

Lvnx  . 

Firebrand 

Surprise 

Despatch 

Asp 

Helen 

Porcupine 

Oor.  Tompkini 

Conquest 

Ranger 

La4K  of  ^  Lak« 

Amelia 

Ontario 

Fair  Americaa 

Pert 

Asp 

RavenT 
Sloop  Ckuh 

FinOi 

Preble 

MontgOflKrjr 

Buffalo 

Camel 

Tickler 

President 
Ketch  Spitfire 

reHivivs* 


T.Brown 
L.  ICeamej 
J.  B.  Nicliolsoo 
T.  Gamble 
G  W.Rodgen 
J.  J.  Niciiouon 
L.  Alexis 


BL.Haddaway 

A.  J.  Dallas 
W.  Chauncey 


B.  D.  Coaklqr 
F.  Forrest 
T.  Dukehart 


W.  Atkinson 


# 


Erie,  Penn. 

WUtc  H^l,  N.  Y. 

Savannalk.* 
Saeket^s  Harbov 
.Boston 
At  sea 

Do. 

Do. 
Arrived  at  NorCslk 
Mew-Orlei^ 
Erie,  Peiih. 
Do,     do. 
Do.     do. 
Charleston,    S.  Cw 
WUteHall,  N.Y 
At  sea 

Do. 
Erie,  Peon. 
At  jMa 

New-Vork       k 
Wilmington,  IVIC. 
Washington,  D.  C.4 
Do.  do. 

New-Orleani 

Do. 
Noifolk 
Baltiiqore 
Newcastle,  Dc3. 
Erie,  Peon. 
SackeVs  Harbor    * 
Do.  do. 

Baltimore 
Sdcket^s  Harbor 
Erie,  Penn. 
Sacket^^  Harbor 
Do.  do 

Do.  do. 

Do.  do. 

Do.  do. 

M[hiteHaIl,N.  Y4 
D>p.  do. 

Do.  do. 

Do.  do. 

Off  Reedy  Inland 
Do.  .        do. 
New  Ofleabs 
White  Hall,  N.  Y. 
Norfolk. 
N«w-york 


if 


^^' 


309 


HlflTOBT  OF  THE  WAM* 


Bate.    Namu  tfVasdt. 


Cofnmatiwfi* 


I      'III  lli't  ' 


White  im,  N.  T, 


Do. 
Do. 
D«. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 
Do. 


do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
d<). 
do. 
,66. 


Vengeaooe 
Oalky  Allen 
,;f  Burrows 

J'  Borer  "^^ 

''Nettle 

Viper  ;  ' 

Centipede 

Liidloir 

Wilmcr 
«  AlwvB 

Ballard 

frtm  No.  1  to  15,  inclarive,  on  Lake  Ontario,  laountiog  each 
11,  and  now  at  Sacket^s  Harbor. 
Tfie  old  gon  boati  have  been  chiefly  told. 

It  would  be  a  ouriouft^  queition  in  political 
ariihmetio,  to  deterniiiio»  wnat  iiumber  of  Ame- 
rican ships  and  their  r&tesy  wo||kl  be  sufficient 
to  destroy  the  British  naVj,  i  tune  the  naval 
ovehts  of  the  late  war  as^^a  scale  by  which  to 
oalculate  ;  and  how  long  it  would  take  to  pro- 
yide  ine  necessary  nuniTOr  of  yessels*  taking 
the  increase  of  the  nayy,  during  the  war,  as  a 
ratio. 

UST  OF  AMERICAN  PRIZES, 

WMi  the  nane  of  the  Privateers,  8cc.  and  the  num» 
ber  ca^ared  by  each  vessel,  during  the  War. 
( FromMietl* 8  Register. )         ^     . 

U.  S.  ship  Adams 

Boat  A.lert,  ofBarlingtoa,  Laket7bamplain 
Alexander  of  Salem 
Alfred  of  Salem 
•  Amelia  of  Baltimore 

America  of  Salem 
Anaconda  of  N.  York 
U.  S.  brig  Argus  # 

Ar^rb  of  B^ltiraortf 
Atlass  of  Philadelphia 
Avon  of  Boston 
Baltimore  of  Baltimore 
Bellona  of  Philadelphia 
iBlack^oke 
Boats  from  Buffaloe 
Brutus  of  Bo(!ton 
Buckskin  of  5alem 
BvnkerhiU  of  N.  York 


9 

1 

3 

5 

21 

30 

3 

3 

1 

2 

I 

2 

3 
•> 

i 

4 

e 


:# 


* 


BIITOBT  OV  TBS  Wipi"^^ 

■if 


30f 


6i4eiof8{Uem 

Gwoliiie  of  Baltimore  ' 

flitharhif  of  ^ton 

Obamplaio  PiMteer 

Olttrlei  Steirart  of  Boston 

Ghaueur  of  Baltimore 

Ghauneey'i  squadron  on  Lake  Oiktario 

U.  S.  frigate  Chesapeake 

Oomet 

tf.  8.  frigate  Congress. 

V.  S.  frifate  Constitutioa 

Dart 

gash  of  Portland 
svid  Porter  of  N.York 
David  Porter  of  Boston 
Dffcaturof  New  burf  port 
Decatur  of  Cbarlestou 
Delisle  of  Q^kimoM 
Diamond  of  Baltimoire- 
DiaiuBde  of  Valem^ 
DividMVe  fall 
Dolphin  of  Sf^'lein 
DroiQO  of  BostcMi  1 
fiagle 
BHaa 
U.  S.'brig  Enterpi  a* - 

flT.  S  tViigiite  £s«ex 
ssex  Junior  '  j 

xpedttiou  of  Baltimore  - 
Pair  Trader  of  iSalem 
Fairy  of  Baltimore 
Pame  of  iSalera 
Fame  of  ThomastowB 
Fiirtof  N.  York 
Flv 
Pox  of  5alem 


f^^  of  Baltimore 

Won    '*~ 


York. 


?b!i:  of  Piirtsmouth  ■ 

Franklin  of  !V.  York' 

U.  S  sloop  of  war  Frolic 

FtoH."  ot'.^ilem 

PuM  hl»oded  Yankee 

O^llowa^,  of  N.  York 

Oftnpr-al;;.\rin8tron(!  of  N. 

O'f  neral  ^tark  of  Sateni 

General  Pa tn  iwi  of  Sale m 

Gtobe  of  Baltimore^ 

Oissiraw 

Governor  Tompkins  of  N.  York' 

Governor  M'Kfean  of  Ptiil  iddpliia 

Gr»vf»rnor  Plumer  of  Poi  tsuiouth 

Giiiuipuj  iif  Boltiinoie 

Otoak  i  Uitk  of  Salem  > 


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20. 

r 

UUrm  of  Baltiittore 

Harrhon  of  Baltimore                 # 

IS. 

r 

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M 

Hawk  of  Waahington,  If.  €» 

"■^^-^      ■-<, 

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Henry  Gailiier  of  N.  York -> 

l.'- 

; 

Hcwfra  of  N.York                  .■\ 

4''i 

iikr 

*              Hero  ol  N.York                         ' 

.       4.' 

ll 

Hero  of  New  hern  • 

%^ 

F 

HeroofStonington 
High  P'lyer  of  Baltimore  ■' 
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lodastry  of  MarbleheaA  .i. 

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3^' 

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'     ■-■  I 

James  Muoroe 

.  !•- 

: 

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6 

Joel  Barlo^ 

.    a^  ■■■. 

Jonquil  of  N.  Ydrk 

5>  ■  V  ■... 

■>- 

John  of  Ssilrm 

12:  i: 

. 

John  and  Oertrge    ^                        >'  . 

■  1' 

; 

Kemp  of  Biiltiniore 

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On  Lake  8uperi<wk 

a^ 

On  Lake  Hilron 

l'^: 

On  LakeCMiam{)l8in 

9:  ,■ 

Lark 

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■   _ 

Lawrence  of  Baltimore 

IS 

Leach  of  Salem 

2 

Leader 

l< 

Leaqder  of  Providenet  • 

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r- 

Leo  of  Baltimore 

18 

Liberty  of.  Baltimore 

7 

^  *- 

lAxm  George  of  Boston 

1 

. 

Lovely  Cordelia  of  Charlestop 

20-^ 

1 

Lovely  Lass 

'1. 

f' 

Lyon  of  MarMehead                    > 
Macedonian  of  Ball imore 

4n 

1--. 

■       ■ 

Macedonian  of  Fortfrnouthk 

4'> 

Madison  i^alem - 
MaringofPw.  Yorjc 

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m' 

Maknmotbo)'  Ckiliimore 

28        r 

w  ■■ 

|kf*JDoiidit^  eriUiode-Island^ 

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flfan  of  Norfolk 
M  irs  of  N.  York 
liars  of  Nutliondoa 
M»ry  AlinHlChai  leBtoiK 

Matiraa  7^^ 

Midas  of  Unltimore 

OnMobHiBav 

Morgiana  ftf  !^.  York  * 

M^finigomery  of^Salem  • 

Nancy » 

Ned  of  BaltimoKl  •  . 

JNonpMwil ' ' 

Jlowiiifh  of  Baltimore 

V.  9.  gchodner  Nonsuoh  't^^'  ■■*' , 

Ordera  in  CoquciI  ,.      : 

Orlando  of  ISIiaeetter 

Patriot  of  KjFfork 

PaAkJonM  o|)^kif.York": 

Berry  of  l|ajB^w>  - 

United  Siml'lilobf)  of-^ar  Petecdir 
Pat^pMo  onEltiWinore 

Pilot  -':       '-*f*-        '-^.i 

Polly  of  Salelir       " 

Portsmouth  of  Portimottth 

poor  Sailor 

Riimbler  of  Bristol 

B«mbler- of  Boston 

lEllnger  of  Boston 

Rapid  of  Boston 

Rapid  of  Charleston 

VqlM  States*  brie  Rattlesnaktr 

R^lR^nake  of  Philadelphia 

Re^rulator 

Reiridf>er  of  Boston  ^^ 

.Rf>8<)Iution  of  Boston' "^ 

Retaliation 

Revenge  of  Baltimore 

Roger  of  Norfolk 

Ro^er  of  Baltimore 

Rolla 

Commodore  Rbdgers's  sqoadroQ' 

Rosamond 

Rosiy  of  Baltimore 

Rover  of^^York 

Ryw  hoat^Jnvateer 

Sabine  of  Mltinaore 

At  ^Aody  Creek  by  riflemeo 

Sarah  Anne  of  Baltimore   „ 

Saratoga  of  N.  York 

ScoargeofN.  York 

&WKy  Jack  of  CbarlestoD 


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Sine  qiia-noi)  of  BoftoiK 

jlorjaotiort^Hletn 

Siro  of  Baltimoie 

Sn^p  Dnigon  of  Newbem 

Aiowbird 

£li>Lrruw  of  BaltiBMrtv 

Upark  of  N.  York     » 


i^-  4 


grpriiie  of  Baltimore 
>at  Sarpriiie  aail  Boat  Swihat^ 
SN-ncer  of  PtiiMelpbia 
nited  Slatr«*  nrig  8ynm 
syren  of  JifoUimore 
On  the  St.  Lawrence 
Teaier  of  N ;  York. 
Terrible  (boat) 

Tbretber       _^ .  -^ 

TiMUby  P^llfliit 
Tom  ^f'Baltlinofe  , 
Troe^>»)o<]itfKl  Yankee 
Two'Bi^b^b  of  New  Orleank 
I  Twor'Friciil  ofHVfaMachusette 
ICiirkaboof  Baltimore 
V    S.  fy%ae  United  Statca 
|71tor  of  fidtimore 
United  We  Stand 
Upton  (a  prize  sbipV^ 
Viper  of  91.  York 
yiper.ofSiflem 
Warrior  of  N   York 
l7;S.-8hip  of  war  Waf/jy. 
Waitp  of  Baltimore 
Wasp  of  Philadeliihia 
Wanp  of  Salem 
Wafhinj^tnn  of  Portsmnutfa 
Waterwitch  of  Bristol  • 
Whig  of  Baltimore       "       v 
Wiley  Reynard  of  Boeto»M 
Wltnie  boat 
Yankee  nfBristor    -. 
Yankee  (smack) 
Y"»klowoof  N.  York- 
York  of  Baltimore  ,^. 
Young  Eagle  of  N    York                      '3P 
Youn?  Teazer  of  N.  York 
Yonne  ^Va8pji|PhiIaclel()hia 
Stuvli'v  vemM^Bmes  not  Mscertnioed  ' 
Omitted  ini^^A.  the  Argus  qf  Boston 


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